Transferability of Cardiopulmonary Parameters between Treadmill and Cycle Ergometer Testing in Male Triathletes-Prediction Formulae

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a treadmill (TE) or cycle ergometry (CE) is a common method in sports diagnostics to assess athletes' aerobic fitness and prescribe training. In a triathlon, the gold standard is performing both CE and TE CPET. The purpose of this research was to create models using CPET results from one modality to predict results for the other modality. A total of 152 male triathletes (age = 38.20 ± 9.53 year; BMI = 23.97 ± 2.10 kg·m^-2) underwent CPET on TE and CE, preceded by body composition (BC) analysis. Speed, power, heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO₂), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency (fR), blood lactate concentration (LA) (at the anaerobic threshold (AT)), respiratory compensation point (RCP), and maximum exertion were measured. Random forests (RF) were used to find the variables with the highest importance, which were selected for multiple linear regression (MLR) models. Based on R² and RF variable selection, MLR equations in full, simplified, and the most simplified forms were created for VO_2AT, HR_AT, VO_2RCP, HR_RCP, VO_2max, and HR_max for CE (R² = 0.46-0.78) and TE (R² = 0.59-0.80). By inputting only HR and power/speed into the RF, MLR models for practical HR calculation on TE and CE (both R² = 0.41-0.75) were created. BC had a significant impact on the majority of CPET parameters. CPET parameters can be accurately predicted between CE and TE testing. Maximal parameters are more predictable than submaximal. Only HR and speed/power from one testing modality could be used to predict HR for another. Created equations, combined with BC analysis, could be used as a method of choice in comprehensive sports diagnostics.

Keywords: HRmax; VO2max; cardiorespiratory fitness; exercise testing; maximal oxygen uptake; prediction models; sports diagnostic; triathletes.

Figure 1

Graphs of observed vs. predicted results using each of the formulae. Abbreviations: VO_2AT, relative VO₂ at AT (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹); VO_2RCP, relative VO₂ at RCP (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹); VO_2max, relative maximum VO₂ (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹); HR_AT, heart rate at AT (bpm); HR_RCP, heart rate at RCP (bpm); HR_max, maximal heart rate (bpm).

Figure 2

Graphs of observed vs. predicted results using each of the formulae. Abbreviations: VO_2AT, relative VO₂ at AT (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹); VO_2RCP, relative VO₂ at RCP (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹); VO_2max, relative maximum VO₂ (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹); HR_AT, heart rate at AT (bpm); HR_RCP, heart rate at RCP (bpm); HR_max, maximal heart rate (bpm).