The Design Of Two-stage Workload Cycle Protocol To Estimate VO2MAX

Purposes:This research is aimed at the design of a new submaximal exercise test on cycle ergometer, thus providing convenience for large-scale cardiovascular fitness survey.Methods:Our Protocol was based on previous database (20-39 years old group, respectively male and female).With references and pilot trials, we set the principle of two workloads at 40% and 80% VO2max(HRmax)-Then we identified theoretical range of HR of each group according to the equation HRMAX= 220-Age. Based on previous database (male 97 people and female 93people’s VO2MAX on cycle) on each stage HR of graded exercise test, we tried to locate the theoretical HR range in workload stages so that the actual numbers of the two workloads were defined. We performed TWCP on 83 people (38 male,45 female) on two lab visits. The first was for TWCP, and the Second was for GXT, with 24hours intervals. All the subjects were healthy Chinese without chronic diseases and satisfied the requirements of participation in exercise tests. All the participants were informed consent.Results:1. TWCP is made as following:Note: In each stage, the HRs at the end of the second minute, the second and half minute, the third minute were recorded and the RPE was inquired after recording the first HR.2. With SPSS 19.0 analysis, VO2MAx was significantly correlated with TWCP VO2PEAK,and HR and RPE of the second stage in TWCP (rPEAK= 0.825, rHR=-0.210, rRPE=-0.398, all a<0.05). Thus, the regression equation was: VO2max(L/min)=4.651+(-0.674)*Gender+0.036*BMI+(-0.009)*HR2+(-0.070)*RPE2In which Gender:male=1, female=2; BMI=weight (kg)/(height (m))2; HR2= the mean of three recorded HRs in the second stage; RPE2= the inquired RPE in the second stage. For the equation, R=0.880, and Adjusted R2=0.775, α<0.01. The SEE=0.273 L/min. and ICC= 0.938.Conclusions:TWCP is a reliable submaximal cycle exercise test for VO2MAX, with accurate estimation.