Open-ended time durations for stationary start intense cycle ergometer exercise testing

Abstract

The study involved application of different applied loads to measure altered test durations, time to peak power, peak power, and peak cadence during intense cycle ergometry exercise. Healthy, physically active male (n = 11) and female (n = 11) subjects (18-45 years) performed the following 3 bouts of intense cycle ergometry at peak cadence to volitional exhaustion on 3 separate days, 48 h to 1 week apart: (i) 85 g·kg(-1) body mass load; (ii) 75 g·kg(-1) body mass load; and (iii) 100 g·kg(-1) body mass load. Trials (ii) and (iii) were performed in random order after trial (i). Exercise consisted of a stationary start, where test termination occurred when cadence decreased to <35 r·min(-1). Mean (±SD) for gender main effects for time to peak power were 7.64 ± 2.76 vs. 9.49 ± 2.76 s (p < 0.001) for males and females, respectively. Relative peak power data for males vs. females for 75, 85, and 100 g·kg(-1) were 10.01 ± 1.371 vs. 7.81 ± 1.25, 10.16 ± 1.61 vs. 7.67 ± 1.35, and 10.91 ± 2.03 vs. 7.31 ± 1.37 W·kg(-1), respectively. The means for test duration for the GENDER × LOAD interaction (p = 0.09) were 68.25 ± 17.80 vs. 56.5 ± 11.56, 63.70 ± 17.21 vs.57.95 ± 10.45, and 51.99 ± 14.59 vs. 49.54 ± 12.45 s for males vs. females for each of 75, 85, and 100 g·kg(-1), respectively. Stepwise multiple regression involving load and gender resulted in an explanation of variance (R(2)) of only 31.2%. Open-ended testing should be performed at a load of 100 g·kg(-1) body mass for males and 85 g·kg(-1) body mass females, causing volitional exhaustion in approximately 60 s and should allow test duration to be another measured variable.