Comparison of Resistance-Based Walking Cardiorespiratory Test to the Bruce Protocol. Issue 12 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hurt, Christopher P.; Bamman, Marcas M.; Naidu, Avantika; Brown, David A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of strength and conditioning research. Volume 34:Issue 12(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: aerobic testing -- resistive force -- walk -- treadmill; Physical education and training -- Periodicals; Weight training -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Physical fitness -- Periodicals; 613.7
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002263
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-8011

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Hurt, CP, Bamman, M, Naidu, A, and Brown, DA. Comparison of resistance-based walking cardiorespiratory test to the Bruce Protocol. J Strength Cond Res 34(12): 3569–3576, 2020—Cardiorespiratory fitness is assessed through graded exercise tests that determine the maximum amount of sustained mechanical work that an individual can perform while also providing health- and fitness-related information. This article describes a novel method to perform graded exercise tests that use posteriorly directed resistive forces. The purpose of this investigation was to validate a novel resistance-based test (RBT) in comparison with a traditional speed- and incline-based test (SIBT) in a cohort of nonimpaired individuals. Twenty nonimpaired individuals, 8 men and 20 women age 28.4 ± 9.6, range 20–54 years old performed 2 maximal exercise tests. The SIBT used the Bruce Protocol and increased treadmill incline and speed every 3 minutes. The RBT used a robotic device interfaced with the treadmill that provided specified horizontal resistive forces at the center of mass calculated to match each Bruce Protocol stage while individuals walked at 1.1 m·s −1 . Subjects obtained ∼3% higher maximum V[Combining Dot Above]O2 measure using the speed- and incline-based method (dependent t -test p = 0.08). V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peaks between tests were strongly correlated ( r = 0.93, p < 0.001). Peak values of secondary physiologic measures (i.e., max heart rate and respiratory exchange ratio) were within 3% between tests. We found a significant linear relationship between mass-specific work rate and measured V[Combining Dot Above]O2 stage by stage for both tests, but no significant difference between each linear fit ( p = 0.84). These data suggest that horizontal resistive forces, while walking on a treadmill, can be used to increase aerobic effort in a way that closely simulates work rates of the Bruce Protocol.