Graduate Program

Physical Education

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2005

Thesis Director

Jill Owen

Thesis Committee Member

Phyllis Croisant

Thesis Committee Member

Scott Crawford

Abstract

Obtaining VO2max values can be valuable for both healthy and diseased populations to establish exercise prescriptions, monitor progress, and monitor overall health. Unfortunately, testing procedures to obtain VO2max involve highly skilled technicians, expensive sophisticated equipment, a slight risk to the patient, and more time and more space compared to other fitness tests. The most accurate way to measure maximal oxygen uptake is by analyzing oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production using closed-circuit gas analysis while the subjects runs or walks on a treadmill or rides a cycle ergometer. The YMCA Submaximal Bicycle Ergometer test was developed to allow the subject to work at a submaximal level to predict VO2max. This is accomplished by measuring two consecutive heart rates between 110 and 150 bpm, and plotting those heart rates against the respective workloads. The purpose of this study was to determine if continuing the YMCA test to 85% of APMHR would elicit a more accurate estimation of VO2max.

Twenty-three apparently healthy subjects, ages 18-25, participated in the study. All subjects were Eastern Illinois University students, recreationally active, and engaged in at least three days per week of aerobic exercise. Testing included two testing sessions. The first test involved performing the YMCA test and continuing the test to slightly before reaching 85% APMHR. The second test was a maximal treadmill test that was performed at least five days after the submaximal cycle ergometer test, but no longer than two weeks. An ANOVA with repeated measures was conducted to determine differences between the tests (p > 0.05).

The results from the test indicated that there was no difference between the YMCA test (YMCA) and continuing to 85% APMHR (85%BIKE), where p=0.135. There was a significant difference between YMCA and the maximal treadmill test (Max), where p = 0.001. There was also a significant difference between 85%BIKE and Max, where p = 0.000.

It was expected that continuing the test to 85% of APMHR would provide a more accurate estimation of VO2max, due to these values being closer to maximal exertion. Continuing the test did not show improvement in estimation values; therefore, extending the test to 85% of APMHR is a waste of time and energy. The reason for no improvement is most likely due to no relevance of what heart rates are used when extrapolating heart rate versus workload. As long as two consecutive heart rates are between 110 bpm and 85% of APMHR, it does not affect the results if the first two heart rates after 110 bpm are used, or the last two heart rates before reaching 85% APMHR are used.

If more subjects or an updated protocol, designed for males and very fit women had been used, the results of this study might have been more significant. Further research needs to be done with a larger population to determine if there is a difference in these two protocols.

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