Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(09): 729-734
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1547225
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Evaluation of the Best-designed Graded Exercise Test to Assess Peak Treadmill Speed

C. S. Peserico
1   Department of Physical Education, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
,
A. M. Zagatto
2   Department of Physical Education, Sao Paulo State University, Bauru, Brazil
,
F. A. Machado
1   Department of Physical Education, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 21 January 2015

Publication Date:
14 April 2015 (online)

Abstract

This study examined the influence of different speed increments during treadmill exercise tests on peak treadmill speed (Vpeak) and its relationship with a 1-h treadmill running performance. 18 male recreational and amateur runners (10-km running pace: 10–15 km·h−1) performed, in an alternate order, 3 continuous incremental exercise tests with different speed increments (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 km·h−1) on a motorized treadmill to determine Vpeak. Thereafter they undertook a 1-h time trial on a treadmill. Vpeak was determined as either (a) the highest speed that could be maintained for a complete minute (Vpeak-60 s), (b) the speed of the last complete stage (Vpeak-C), or (c) the speed of the last complete stage added to the product of the speed increment and the completed fraction of the incomplete stage (Vpeak-P). The Vpeak values were highly influenced by the different speed-incremented rates and the Vpeak-P determined during the protocol comprising speed increments of 1 km·h−1 presented the highest correlation with 1-h time trial performance (r=0.89). The results suggest that a protocol with speed increments comprising 1 km·h−1 and with a 3-min stage duration should be used as standard for the determination of Vpeak to assess aerobic fitness and predict endurance performance in recreational runners. Furthermore, the Vpeak-P should be used for the determination of Vpeak.

 
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