Inclusion Of Anthropometric Data Improves YMCA Prediction Of Vo2peak

Abstract

A very popular submaximal protocol for estimation of VO2peak is the YMCA bike test. Steady state heart rate (HR) is measured at multiple submaximal workloads and extrapolated to the subject's estimated maximal HR (220-age). The VO2 corresponding to the estimated maximal HR is accepted as the estimated VO2 peak. The accuracy of VO2 peak estimation from the YMCA protocol has not been thoroughly investigated. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate and attempt to improve the accuracy of the YMCA protocol. Considering the availability of anthropometric data, BMI and body fat percentage (estimated through skinfolds) were utilized (through regression analysis) in and attempt to improve the accuracy. Methods Thirty females (20.8±1.4 years, 63.3±8.5kg, 23.9±4.1% fat) participated in the study. The standard YMCA protocol was completed (with simultaneous measurement of metabolic data) and then continued (resistance increased 50Watts/min) to volitional exhaustion. ANOVA with repeated measures was used to compare: a) VO2 peak estimated from the standard YMCA protocol (YVO2); b) VO2 peak estimated using the Houston non-exercise VO2 prediction equation (HVO2); and c) VO2peak measured by direct gas analysis (MVO2). Regression analysis on twenty-five of the subjects was used to develop two VO2 peak prediction equations (utilizing YVO2 and each of the anthropometric variables - BMI or Fat %). The equations were then cross-validated using the remaining subjects. Results All differences between MVO2 (36.98 ml/ kg/min±5.1), YVO2 (34.8 ml/kg/min±6.3), and HVO2 (38.97 ml/kg/min±3.4) were significant (p ≤ 0.05). VO2 values predicted with the BMI (35.9 ml/kg/min±3.3) and body fat (36.5 ml/kg/min±2.8) regression equations were not significantly different from MVO2 (37.9 ml/kg/min±3.4) in the subjects used for cross-validation. Conclusion The current results demonstrate that by simply adding BMI or estimated percent fat to the popular YMCA formula, a more accurate estimation of aerobic capacity can be obtained in college-aged females.