An appended step exercise test at 105% of peak work rate yielded similar peak Vo2 compared to ramp incremental exercise (4.30 vs 4.33 l/min; P=0.49), providing a plateau criterion for maximum Vo2.
Does an appended step exercise test after a ramp incremental test establish a plateau criterion for maximum O2 uptake in healthy adults?
An appended step exercise test can verify maximum O2 uptake in a single session by demonstrating no significant difference in peak Vo2 compared to the preceding ramp incremental test, establishing a plateau criterion.
Absolute Event Rate: 4.3% vs 4.33%
p-value: p=0.49
The O2 uptake (Vo2) response to ramp incremental (RI) exercise does not consistently demonstrate plateau-like behavior at the limit of tolerance, and hence the requirements for a maximum Vo2 commonly are not met, despite apparent maximum effort. We sought to determine whether an appended step exercise (SE) test at a work rate greater than that achieved in a preceding ramp test would establish the plateau criterion. Seven healthy male adults performed RI cycle ergometry (20 W/min) to the limit of tolerance, followed by 5-min recovery (20 W) and then an SE test at 105% (RISE-105) of the final work rate (WRpeak) achieved during RI. Five of these subjects also performed an RI test followed by SE at 95% WRpeak (RISE-95). Vo2 was measured breath by breath using a turbine and mass spectrometer. The average of the final 15 s of RI or SE was used to establish respective Vo2 peaks. When Vo2 peak was approached, a constant Vo2 value (e.g., a plateau) was not discernable during any RI or SE component of the tests. Although the WRpeak mean (SD) was higher during the SE portion 359 W (SD 31) than during the RI portion 341 W (SD 29) of the RISE-105, the peak Vo2 was not different SE, 4.30 l/min (SD 0.51); RI, 4.33 l/min (SD 0.52); P=0.49; n=7. Similarly, in the RISE-95 test, WRpeak was 310 W (SD 31) for the SE portion and 326 W (SD 32) for the RI portion, yet the peak Vo2 values were not different SE, 4.12 l/min (SD 0.53); RI, 4.11 l/min (SD 0.48); P=0.78; n=5. The lack of notable difference between the Vo2 peaks established at different WRpeak values in our RISE protocols provides the plateau criterion for verification of maximum Vo2 in a single test session, even when the data response profiles do not themselves evidence a plateau.
Rossiter et al. (Fri,) conducted a other in Healthy (n=7). Appended step exercise (SE) test vs. Ramp incremental (RI) exercise was evaluated on Peak O2 uptake (Vo2 peak) (p=0.49). An appended step exercise test at 105% of peak work rate yielded similar peak Vo2 compared to ramp incremental exercise (4.30 vs 4.33 l/min; P=0.49), providing a plateau criterion for maximum Vo2.