Supramaximal Testing to Confirm Attainment of VO₂max in Sedentary Men and Women

Abstract

Supramaximal testing is widely used to verify VO₂max attainment, yet its efficacy in sedentary subjects is unknown. The aim of the study was to test this hypothesis in men and women completing maximal cycle ergometry. Fifteen sedentary subjects (age=22.4±3.9 year) completed incremental exercise, and returned at least 24 h later to complete constant load exercise at 105% peak work rate (Wmax). Another group of nine sedentary men and women (age=21.8±5 year) completed supramaximal exercise at 115% Wmax 1–1.5 h after incremental exercise. During exercise, gas exchange data and heart rate (HR) were continuously obtained. VO₂max was similar (p>0.05) between incremental and supramaximal exercise in subjects in the first (32.32±4.81 mL/kg/min vs. 31.80±5.35 mL/kg/min) and second subset (40.63±3.61 mL/kg/min vs. 41.66±5.55 mL/kg/min). Maximal HR was lower (p<0.05) with supramaximal exercise, yet respiratory exchange ratio was higher (p<0.05). Test-retest reliability (r=0.81–0.89, p<0.05) for VO₂max was high during repeated bouts of supramaximal testing. Findings support use of this protocol to confirm VO₂max attainment in healthy, sedentary men and women completing incremental cycle ergometry.

Key words

maximal oxygen uptake - verification phase - VO₂ plateau - sedentary - cycle ergometry

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1 An abstract of this study was presented at the Southwest meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in November, 2007.

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