Abstract
Purpose
Graded exercise testing (GXTs) is used to determine maximum oxygen uptake (\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2\max }}\)). Recently, customized submaximal exercise testing (CSET) completed on both treadmill and cycle ergometry were validated.
Methods
Interrater reliability of the CSET for cycle ergometry was examined. Thirteen participants (age 31 ± 10.2 y, weight 77.9 ± 10.5 kg, height 176.2 ± 9.9 cm, body mass index 25.1 ± 2.9) completed the 2-stage × 3-min CSET protocol performed by two separate testers. True \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\mathrm{max}}\) was determined using the highest value derived by a GXT and verification bout. Skeletal muscle oxygen saturation (\(\dot{S}m{O}_{2}\)), measured using near-infrared spectrometry on the medial gastrocnemius muscle, and \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) were monitored during each CSET; whereby, \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) kinetics were modeled breath-by-breath data for each 3-min stage. Measurement agreement was quantified using intraclass coefficient (ICC), typical error (TE), and coefficient of variation (CV).
Results
“True” \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\mathrm{max}}\) (ml·kg−1·min−1) between the GXT (41.3 ± 10.5) and verification (42.5 ± 11.5) was established (ICC = 0.98, TE: 0.98, CV 2.1%). Estimated \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\mathrm{max}}\) by tester 1 (42.5 ± 9.8) and tester 2 (42.7 ± 8.9) did not differ from “true” \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\mathrm{max}}\) (F2,36 = 0.02, p = 0.98, ηp2 = 0.00). The second stage evoked a \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) slow component of 194 ± 124 ml·min−1 that corresponded with a time-dependent decline of \(\dot{S}m{O}_{2}\). The mean \(\dot{S}m{O}_{2}\) from the two CSET testers were highly correlated (ICC = 0.91, TE: 4.1%, CV = 8.9%).
Conclusions
The CSET is a reliable and valid procedure and \(\dot{S}m{O}_{2}\) is a useful tool for corroborating the second stage is in the heavy-intensity domain.
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Abbreviations
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- CP:
-
Critical power
- CSET:
-
Customized submaximal exercise test
- CRF:
-
Cardio-respiratory fitness
- CV:
-
Coefficient of variation
- GET:
-
Gas exchange threshold
- GXT:
-
Graded exercise test
- ICC:
-
Intraclass coefficient
- NIRS:
-
Near-infrared spectrometry
- \(\dot{S}m{O}_{2}\) :
-
Skeletal muscle oxygen saturation
- TE:
-
Typical error
- \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) :
-
Volume of oxygen uptake
- \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2max}\) :
-
Maximum oxygen uptake
- W peak :
-
Power output evoking \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)
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Acknowledgements
Michael Kantor received an internal research grant from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions to support this study. The results of this study are presented clearly, honestly and without fabrication, falsification or inappropriate data manipulation.
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MK, SF, CG, and RP conceived and designed research. MK and CG conducted experiments. MK contributed to modeling of the raw data. MK, SF, CG, MK, and RWP wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Kantor, M.A., Fretti, S., Gubler, C. et al. Interrater reliability of a customized submaximal cycle ergometer test. Eur J Appl Physiol 123, 43–48 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05052-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05052-9