DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBMAXIMAL TEST TO PREDICT ELLIPTICAL CROSS-TRAINER &OV0312;O2MAX

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop an equation to predict O2max from a submaximal elliptical cross-trainer test. Fifty-four apparently healthy subjects (25 men and 29 women, mean ± SD age: 29.5 ± 7.1 years, height: 173.3 ± 12.6 cm, weight: 72.3 ± 7.9 kg, percent body fat: 17.3 ± 5.0%, and elliptical cross-trainer O2max: 43.9 ± 7.2 ml·kg−1·min−1) participated in the study and were randomly assigned to an original sample group (n = 40) and a cross-validation group (n = 14). Each subject completed an elliptical cross-trainer submaximal (3 5-minute submaximal stages) and a O2max test on the same day, with a 15-minute rest period in between. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to develop an equation for estimating elliptical cross-trainer O2max from the data of the original sample group. The accuracy of the equation was tested by using data from the cross-validation group. Because there was no shrinkage in R2 between the original sample group and the cross-validation group, data were combined in the final prediction equation (R2 = 0.732, standard error of the estimate = 3.91 ml·kg−1·min−1, p < 0.05): O2max = 73.676 + 7.383(gender) - 0.317(weight) + 0.003957(age·cadence) - 0.006452(age·heart rate at stage 2). The correlation coefficient between the predicted and measured O2max values was r = 0.86. Dependent t-tests resulted in no significant differences (p > 0.05) between predicted (43.8 ml·kg−1·min−1) and measured (43.9 ml·kg−1·min−1) O2max measurements. Results indicate that the protocol and equation developed in the current study can be used by exercise professionals to provide acceptably accurate estimates of O2max in non-laboratory-based settings.