Establishing maximal oxygen uptake in young people during a ramp cycle test to exhaustion. Issue 6 (12th August 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barker, A R; Williams, C A; Jones, A M; Armstrong, N
• Is Part Of: British journal of sports medicine. Volume 45:Issue 6(2011)
• Page Start: 498
• Page End: 503
• Publication Date: 2009-08-12
• Subjects: Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2009.063180
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: This study tested the hypotheses that (1) secondary criteria (respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate, blood [lactate]) traditionally used to verify the determination of maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2max ) in children can result in the acceptance of a 'submaximal' V̇O2max or falsely reject a 'true' V̇O2max and (2) the V̇O2peak recorded during a ramp test in children is comparable to the V̇O2peak achieved during supramaximal testing. Methods: Thirteen children (9–10 years) completed a ramp cycle test to exhaustion to determine their V̇O2peak . After 15 min of recovery, the participants performed a supramaximal cycle test to exhaustion at 105% of their ramp test peak power. Results: Compared with the V̇O2peak during the ramp test, a significantly lower V̇O2 was recorded at a RER of 1.00 (1.293 litre/min (SD 0.265) vs 1.681 litre/min (SD 0.295), p<0.001, n=12), at a heart rate of 195 beats/min (1.556 litre/min (SD 0.265) vs 1.721 litre/min (SD 0.318), p<0.001, n=10) and at 85% of age-predicted maximum (1.345 litre/min (SD 0.228) vs 1.690 litre/min (SD 0.284), p<0.001, n=13). Supramaximal testing yielded a V̇O2peak that was not significantly different from the ramp test (1.615 litre/min (SD 0.307) vs 1.690 litre/min (SD 0.284), p=0.090, respectively). Conclusions: The use of secondary criteria to verify a maximal effort in young people during ramp cycling exercise may result in the acceptance of a submaximal V̇O2max . As supramaximal testing elicits a V̇O2peak similar to the ramp protocol, thus satisfying the plateau criterion, the use of such tests is recommended as the appropriate method of confirming a 'true' V̇O2max with children. Keywords: Children, Aerobic Fitness, Fitness Testing, Supramaximal Exercise.