A cycle ergometer test of maximal aerobic power

Summary

An indirect test of maximal aerobic power (IMAP) was evaluated in 31 healthy male subjects by comparing it with a direct treadmill measurement of maximal aerobic power ($\dot V$O₂ max), with the prediction of $\dot V$O₂ max from heart rate during submaximal exercise on a cycle ergometer using åstrand's nomogram, with the British Army's Basic Fitness Test (BFT, a 2.4 km run performed in boots and trousers), and with a test of maximum anaerobic power. For the IMAP test, subjects pedalled on a cycle ergometer at 75 revs·min⁻¹. The workload was 37.5 watts for the first minute, and was increased by 37.5 watts every minute until the subject could not continue. Time to exhaustion was recorded. Predicted $\dot V$O₂ max and times for BFT and IMAP correlated significantly (p<0.001) with the direct $\dot V$O₂ max: r=0.70, r=0.67 and r=0.79 respectively. The correlation between direct $\dot V$O₂ max and the maximum anaerobic power test was significant (p<0.05) but lower, r=0.44. Although lactate levels after direct $\dot V$O₂ max determination were significantly higher than those after the IMAP test, maximum heart rates were not significantly different. Submaximal $\dot V$O₂ values measured during the IMAP test yielded a regression equation relating $\dot V$O₂ max and pedalling time. When individual values for direct and predicted $\dot V$O₂ max and times for BFT and IMAP were compared with equivalent standards, the percentages of subjects able to exceed the standard were 100, 65, 87, and 87 respectively. These data demonstrate that the IMAP test provides a valid estimate of $\dot V$O₂ max and indicate that it may be a practical test for establishing that an individual meets a minimum standard.