Estimation of peak oxygen uptake from peak power output in able-bodied and paraplegic individuals

Abstract

This study assessed the accuracy of predicting peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2peak) from peak power output (POpeak) using the equation described by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) during arm-cranking exercise in able-bodied and paraplegic individuals. A total of 13 able-bodied (age: 27.2 ± 4.3 years; mass: 74.5 ± 11.8 kg) and 13 paraplegic men (age: 31.6 ± 5.8 years; mass: 63.7 ± 11.1 kg) volunteered to take part in this study. Participants completed a ramp exercise test (started at 0 W and increased by 15 W/minute) and a graded exercise test (GXT, started at 30 W and increased by 15 W every 2 minutes) designed to assess whether V˙O2peak, POpeak, and peak heart rate (HRpeak) differed between the two exercise tests. POpeak was significantly higher for the ramp exercise test compared with GXT (p < 0.05). For GXT, no significant difference was noted in the two groups between measured and predicted V˙O2peak from POpeak using the ACSM equation. The 95% limits of agreement between measured and predicted V˙O2peak was quite narrow for paraplegic persons (1 ± 6) but not for able-bodied individuals (1 ± 10). In the same way, there was a stronger relationship between measured and predicted V˙O2peak for paraplegic persons [intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) = 0.92] compared with able-bodied participants (ICC = 0.77). For the ramp exercise test, predicted V˙O2peak was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than measured V˙O2peak for both groups. In conclusion, V˙O2peak can be predicted with reasonable accuracy from POpeak obtained in GXT using the ACSM equation during arm-cranking exercise in able-bodied and paraplegic individuals.