The simplified V-slope method of detecting the gas exchange threshold

Abstract

A simplified V-slope method was used to visually determine the first point of departure from linearity of carbon dioxide output (VCO2) plotted against oxygen uptake (VO2). The point at which VCO2 departed from a line with a slope equal to 1.00 was visually selected as the gas exchange threshold during incremental exercise. The simplified method of threshold detection was compared with a computerized V-slope method. Both methods were used to determine the gas exchange threshold during incremental cycling (10 W.min-1) in 17 untrained female subjects. The thresholds occurred at 41.1% and 45.1% of VO2max using the computerized and simplified V-slope methods, respectively. The correlation between the oxygen uptake measured at the threshold using the two methods was 0.95. Power output, VO2, and heart rate values determined at the gas exchange threshold using the simplified V-slope method were significantly higher than the corresponding values obtained using the computerized V-slope method. The simplified V-slope method consistently placed the gas exchange threshold at the work rate that was about 10 W above the power output determined by the computerized method. Although the two methods were highly correlated, the simplified V-slope method tended to overestimate threshold values determined from a computerized gas exchange method.