Validity of the revised Ekblom Bak cycle ergometer test in adults.

Frida Björkman,Björn Ekblom,Elin Ekblom-Bak,Örjan Ekblom

doi:10.1007/s00421-016-3412-0

Frida Björkman, Björn Ekblom + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3412-0

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Abstract

PurposeTo further develop the Ekblom Bak-test prediction equation for estimation of VO2max from submaximal cycle ergometry.MethodsThe model group (117 men and 100 women, aged 48.3 ± 15.7 and 46.1 ± 16.8 years, VO2max 46.6 ± 11.1 and 40.4 ± 9.6 mL kg−1 min−1, respectively) and the cross-validation group (60 men and 55 women, aged 40.6 ± 17.1 and 41.6 ± 16.7 years, VO2max 49.0 ± 12.1 and 43.2 ± 8.9 mL min−1 kg−1, respectively) performed 4 min of cycling on a standard work rate (30 W) directly followed by 4 min on a higher work rate. Heart rate (HR) at each work rate was recorded. Thereafter, participants completed a graded maximal treadmill test for direct measurement of oxygen uptake. The new prediction equation was cross-validated and accuracy compared with the original Ekblom Bak equation as well as by the Åstrand test method.ResultsThe final sex-specific regression models included age, change in HR per-unit change in power (ΔHR/ΔPO), the difference in work rates (ΔPO), and HR at standard work rate as independent variables. The adjusted R2 for the final models were 0.86 in men and 0.83 in women. The coefficient of variation (CV) was 8.7 % and SEE 0.28 L min−1. The corresponding CV and SEE values for the EB-test2012 and the Åstrand tests were 10.9 and 18.1 % and 0.35 and 0.48 L min−1, respectively.ConclusionThe new EB-test prediction equation provides an easy administered and valid estimation of VO2max for a wide variety of ages (20–86 years) and fitness levels (19–76 mL kg−1 min−1).

Highlights

Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.Cardiorespiratory fitness, assessed as maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), is a key factor in physical performance (Bassett and Howley 2000) and a strong independent predictor of health and longevity (Blair et al 1989; Kodama et al 2009)
By identifying individual characteristics and physiological responses associated to VO2max, we aimed to reduce the estimation bias seen with high VO2max level in the original test
We have previously shown that there is no mean difference and a small variation (CV: 2.7 %) between test–retest of VO2max according to the above procedure in a mixed population (Ekblom-Bak et al 2014), indicating no need for a second VO2max test on a separate test day to verify the first accepted measurement

Summary

Introduction

Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.Cardiorespiratory fitness, assessed as maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), is a key factor in physical performance (Bassett and Howley 2000) and a strong independent predictor of health and longevity (Blair et al 1989; Kodama et al 2009). VO2max is determined during maximal physical effort by indirect calorimetry using special laboratory equipment. To enable some evaluation of cardiorespiratory fitness in a population, in which the direct determination of VO2max is not possible, several tests, such as different step tests (Brouha et al 1943; McArdle et al 1972; Bennett et al 2015), walk tests (Kline et al 1987; Solway et al 2001), treadmill (Swank et al 2001), and cycle ergometer tests (Åstrand and Ryhming 1954; Legge and Bannister 1986; Golding et al 1989; Hartung et al 1993; Beekley et al 2004), have been developed to estimate VO2max from submaximal performance

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