V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak Comparison of a Treadmill Vs. Cycling Protocol in Elite Teenage Competitive Runners, Cyclists, and Swimmers

Highest oxygen consumption prediction: introducing variable theoretical proportional factors for different sports

PURPOSE

The use of a fixed theoretical-proportional-factor (TPF15) is one of the indirect highest-oxygen-consumptions (HOC) assessment methods, but it may not accurately reflect the physiological differences across various sports (cycling-triathlon-running-football-multisport). The aim of this study is to evaluate the variability of TPF across different sports, proposing a series of sport-specific new TPF values for more accurate HOC estimation.

METHODS

A sample of 340 adults (26.01 ± 7.18 years) performed a maximal-incremental-test using sport-specific-ergometers. HOC was considered for cycling V ˙ O 2peak , whereas for the other investigated sports it was consideredV ˙ O 2max . HOC was directly measured using a gas-analyzer, and TPF values were calculated using heart rate (HR): the ratio of HRmax/HRrest multiplied for the measured values of HOC. A one-way ANOVA was used to measure differences and Bland-Altman plots were constructed to compare predicted and actual V ˙ O 2max /V ˙ O 2peak .

RESULTS

Actual HOC was significantly greater than those predicted by the fixed TPF15 (P < 0.001). Sport-specific new TPF values ranged from 16.55 in multisport to 20.15 in cycling, consistently exceeding the old fixed TPF15, and predicting therefore better HOC. The new TPF exhibited a closer agreement with the directly measuredV ˙ O 2max /V ˙ O 2peak  compared to the TPF15. Furthermore, the new TPF reduced the typical-measurement-error (14.94-17.78%) compared to TPF15 (15.63-24.13%).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that new TPF values predictV ˙ O 2max /V ˙ O 2peak  with higher accuracy compared to the traditional method. The use of HRmax and HRrest values allows to customize training programs for different athletes. Future research should focus on validating these findings across larger populations of athletes.

Aerobic capacity in swimming, cycling and arm cranking in swimmers aged 11-13 years

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare the aerobic capacity in swimming, cycling and arm cranking in swimmers aged 11-13 years.

METHODS

Eleven swimmers (mean age, 12.1 ± 1.0 years) performed three incremental exercise tests. One of the tests was performed under specific conditions (front crawl swimming), and the other two were under non-specific conditions (cycling and arm cranking). Data on the pulmonary gas exchange were recorded using the portable analyser MetaMax 3B (Cortex, Leipzig, Germany). One-way analysis of variance for repeated measures was employed to test the null hypothesis and determine statistically significant differences between the indicators obtained under specific and non-specific testing conditions. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the relationships between the indicators of the pulmonary gas exchange.

RESULTS

The relative peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) value during swimming was 49.3 ± 6.2 mL/kg/min, which was higher than that during arm cranking (39.6 ± 7.3 mL/kg/min; P < 0.01) but lower than that during cycling (54.3 ± 7.8 mL/kg/min; P < 0.01). The peak minute ventilation (V̇Epeak) value during swimming (84.9 ± 12.6 L/min) was higher than that during arm cranking (69.4 ± 18.2 L/min; P < 0.01) but lower than that during cycling (98.4 ± 15.4 L/min; P < 0.01). Strong positive correlations were observed in the absolute and relative V̇O2peak values between swimming and cycling (r = 0.857, P < 0.01; r = 0.657, P < 0.05) and between swimming and arm cranking (r = 0.899, P < 0.01; r = 0.863, P < 0.05). A strong positive correlation was also observed in V̇Epeak values between swimming and arm cranking (r = 0.626, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Swimmers aged 11-13 years showed V̇O2peak and V̇Epeak values during the specific swimming test greater than those during arm cranking but lower than those during cycling. However, aerobic capacity parameters measured during specific swimming conditions correlated with those measured during non-specific arm cranking and cycling conditions.

The effect of a standardized verbal encouragement protocol on peak oxygen uptake during incremental treadmill testing in healthy individuals: A randomized cross-over trial

Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) is considered a vital indicator of health and physical fitness that is often measured during incremental exercise testing. While previous research has shown that the attained V̇O2peak during exercise testing can be influenced by verbal encouragement, no or limited details were provided on the verbal encouragement protocol, hereby hampering implementation in clinical practice or research. Moreover, it remains unknown whether motivation modulates the effect of verbal encouragement. This study aimed to develop and examine the influence of a standardized verbal encouragement protocol on the achieved V̇O2peak, time to exhaustion (TTE), peak heart rate (HRpeak), and peak respiratory exchange ratio (RERpeak) during incremental treadmill testing. As a secondary aim, we investigated whether motivation modulated the effect of verbal encouragement on V̇O2peak. 24 healthy volunteers performed two incremental treadmill runs with 1 week in between and received verbal encouragement during only one of the tests. Motivation toward exercise was measured using the behavioral regulation in exercise questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2) questionnaire. V̇O2peak (Δ 2.10 mL/kg/min, p < 0.001) and RERpeak (Δ 2%, p = 0.042) were significantly higher with verbal encouragement. In contrast, HRpeak (Δ 1.5 beats/min, p = 0.225) and TTE (Δ 1.5%, p = 0.348) were not significantly different between conditions. Exercise motivation showed a weak and nonsignificant association with the change in V̇O2peak between tests (r -0.19, R2 0.037, SEE 2.88, and p = 0.367). These findings show that verbal encouragement leads to higher physiological outcomes during incremental treadmill testing, but the magnitude of this effect is not higher for individuals with lower levels of pretest motivation.

Differences between Treadmill and Cycle Ergometer Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Results in Triathletes and Their Association with Body Composition and Body Mass Index

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the method of choice to assess aerobic fitness. Previous research was ambiguous as to whether treadmill (TE) and cycle ergometry (CE) results are transferrable or different between testing modalities in triathletes. The aim of this paper was to investigate the differences in HR and VO2 at maximum exertion between TE and CE, at anaerobic threshold (AT) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) and evaluate their association with body fat (BF), fat-free mass (FFM) and body mass index (BMI). In total, 143 adult (n = 18 female), Caucasian triathletes had both Tr and CE CPET performed. The male group was divided into <40 years (n = 80) and >40 years (n = 45). Females were aged between 18 and 46 years. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance before tests. Differences were evaluated using paired t-tests, and associations were evaluated in males using multiple linear regression (MLR). Significant differences were found in VO2 and HR at maximum exertion, at AT and at RCP between CE and TE testing, in both males and females. VO2AT was 38.8 (±4.6) mL/kg/min in TE vs. 32.8 (±5.4) in CE in males and 36.0 (±3.6) vs. 32.1 (±3.8) in females (p < 0.001). HRAT was 149 (±10) bpm in TE vs. 136 (±11) in CE in males and 156 (±7) vs. 146 (±11) in females (p < 0.001). VO2max was 52 (±6) mL/kg/min vs. 49 (±7) in CE in males and 45.3 (±4.9) in Tr vs. 43.9 (±5.2) in females (p < 0.001). HRmax was 183 (±10) bpm in TE vs. 177 (±10) in CE in males and 183 (±9) vs. 179 (±10) in females (p < 0.001). MLR showed that BMI, BF and FFM are significantly associated with differences in HR and VO2 at maximum, AT and RCP in males aged >40. Both tests should be used independently to achieve optimal fitness assessments and further training planning.