The ability of a submaximal cycle ergometer test to detect longitudinal changes in VO2max

Frida Björkman; Örjan Ekblom; Elin Ekblom-Bak; Tony Bohman

doi:10.1186/s13102-021-00387-w

The ability of a submaximal cycle ergometer test to detect longitudinal changes in VO₂max

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2021 Dec 14;13(1):156. doi: 10.1186/s13102-021-00387-w.

Authors

Frida Björkman^{1

2}, Örjan Ekblom^{3

4}, Elin Ekblom-Bak^{3

4}, Tony Bohman^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Activity and Health, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, P.O Box 5626, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden. frida.bjorkman@gih.se.
² School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, 791 88, Falun, Sweden. frida.bjorkman@gih.se.
³ Department of Physical Activity and Health, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, P.O Box 5626, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁴ School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, 791 88, Falun, Sweden.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine the ability of a submaximal cycling test to detect longitudinal changes in maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) and examine the conformity between changes in measured and estimated VO₂max over a time span of 5-8 years.

Methods: A total of 35 participants (21 men and 14 women), aged 29 to 63 years, performed the Ekblom-Bak (EB) submaximal cycle test for estimation of VO₂max and a maximal treadmill running test for direct measurement of VO₂max. The baseline tests were conducted between 2009 and 2012, and the follow-up tests were completed 5 to 8 years later. Pearson's coefficient of correlation (r) and paired sample t-test were used to analyse the association between change in measured and estimated VO₂max. Random and systematic errors between the measured and estimated VO₂max were evaluated using Bland-Altman plots. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to test differences between changes over time.

Results: There was no significant change in mean measured VO₂max between baseline and follow-up (p = 0.91), however large individual variations were noted (- 0.78 to 0.61 L/min). The correlation between individual change in measured and estimated VO₂max was r = 0.75 (p < 0.05), and the unstandardised B-coefficient from linear regression modelling was 0.88 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.15), i.e., for each litre of change in estimated VO₂max, the measured value had changed 0.88 L. The correlation between baseline and follow-up errors (the difference between estimated-measured VO₂max at each occasion) was r = 0.84 (p < 0.05). With regard to the testing procedure, repeated measures ANOVA revealed that there was no significant difference between the group who exercised at the same work rates at baseline and follow-up (n = 25), and those who required a change in work rate (n = 10).

Conclusions: The EB test detected a change in VO₂max with reasonably good precision over a time span of 5-8 years. Further studies are needed to evaluate if the test can be used in clinical populations and in subjects with different medications.

Keywords: Cycle ergometer test; Estimation; Fitness; Maximal oxygen uptake.

Grants and funding

AF9220914/Försvarsmakten