Criteria For Maximal Oxygen Uptake In Collegiate Subjects

Abstract

PURPOSE To measure physiological variables typically recorded at maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in college age individuals during a continuous graded exercise test (GXT) on the treadmill (TM) and cycle ergometer (CE). METHODS With a counterbalanced design, 36 female and 15 male college students, aged 18–22 y, completed a TM and CE GXT until volitional exhaustion; GXT were separated by 1 wk. TM GXT velocity was 1 mph faster than the self-selected warm-up pace; grade was increased 2% every 2 min. CE GXT started at 1 kp and 1.5 kp for women and men, respectively; resistance was increased 0.5 kp every 2 min. Heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at the end of each stage. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were averaged and recorded every 30 sec. Blood lactate (BL) was measured 5 min post GXT. Differences between gender and modalities were located with independent and dependent T tests, respectively; α was set at 0.05. RESULTS Current criteria for max are: BL >8.0 mM, HR >age predicted HRmax - 10 bpm, RER >1.15, and a VO2 plateau <2.1 ml.kg- 1·min−1. 85% of subjects reached the BL criterion on either modality; 73% reached the HR criterion on the TM, but only 64% did on the CE; 96% reached the RER criterion on the CE, but only 55% did on the TM; and 54% reached a plateau on the TM, while 24% did on the CE. Approximately 53% achieved at least 3 of the criteria for either test. Significant differences between modalities included RER (0.08 higher on CE) and HR (8.8 bpm higher on TM). Between genders, the only noteworthy difference was HR, which was 6 bpm higher for women on both modalities. CONCLUSIONS These data show the criteria for identifying VO2max should be modality and gender specific. Additionally, the VO2 plateau needs to be reevaluated as a criterion or redefined.