A test to establish maximum O2 uptake despite no plateau in the O2 uptake response to ramp incremental exercise

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 100; no. 3; pp. 764 - 770
• Main Authors: Rossiter, H. B, Kowalchuk, J. M, Whipp, B. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.03.2006; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Test - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Exertion - physiology; Respiratory Function Tests; Tests; Physical exercise; square-wave exercise; Vertebrata; Mammalia; maximal aerobic power; Oxygen consumption; O2 uptake kinetics; Kinetics; Power
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00932.2005

1 Department of Physiology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom; and 2 Canadian Centre for Activity and Ageing, School of Kinesiology, and Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada Submitted 31 July 2005 ; accepted in final form 4 November 2005 The O 2 uptake ( O 2 ) 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 O 2 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 (WR peak ) achieved during RI. Five of these subjects also performed an RI test followed by SE at 95% WR peak (RISE-95). O 2 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 O 2 peaks. When O 2 peak was approached, a constant O 2 value (e.g., a plateau) was not discernable during any RI or SE component of the tests. Although the WR peak [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 O 2 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, WR peak was 310 W (SD 31) for the SE portion and 326 W (SD 32) for the RI portion, yet the peak O 2 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 O 2 peaks established at different WR peak values in our RISE protocols provides the plateau criterion for verification of maximum O 2 in a single test session, even when the data response profiles do not themselves evidence a plateau. square-wave exercise; maximal aerobic power; O 2 uptake kinetics Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: H. B. Rossiter, Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology, Centre of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK (e-mail: h.b.rossiter{at}leeds.ac.uk )