Validity and Test-Retest Reliability of a Speed-Based Maximal Oxygen Uptake (V̇O2max) Protocol in Military Personnel
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12922/jshp.v13i1.203Keywords:
maximal oxygen uptake, verification phase, cardiopulmonary exercise testAbstract
Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) is routinely assessed via a graded treadmill protocol and can be confirmed using a supramaximal verification test. Speed-based running tests may be better suited to assess V̇O2max in populations less familiar with inclined running testing. Fourteen healthy adults (11 males, 3 females; 12 U.S. Army Soldiers, 2 civilians; mean ± SD; age, 24 ± 6 y; body mass, 73.2 ± 15.7 kg; height, 171 ± 8 cm) completed a speed-based incremental running test and a verification test (110% maximal incremental test speed) during two laboratory visits. The starting treadmill speed and speed increments were individualized based on each participant’s two-mile run time from the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) or civilian equivalent. The incremental and supramaximal verification phase were performed until volitional exhaustion and were separated by 15 min of passive rest, while each laboratory visit was separated by ≥ 48 h of recovery. V̇O2 plateau was observed during incremental tests in 84.6% and 83.3% of participants during Visit 1 and 2, respectively. Peak V̇O2 was statistically equivalent between the incremental and verification tests during Visit 1 (mean difference, -0.08 mL∙kg-1∙min-1; 90% CI, [-0.86, 0.70]) and Visit 2 (-0.95 mL∙kg-1∙min-1 [-1.87, -0.04]). Peak V̇O2 obtained during the incremental test was not statistically equivalent between visits (1.35 mL∙kg-1∙min-1 [0.38, 2.33]). However, the test-retest reliability was excellent between the speed-based incremental running test (ICC=0.936; 95% CI, [0.786, 0.979]) and the verification tests (ICC=0.951; 95% CI, [0.836, 0.985]). The speed-based incremental running test investigated in the current study is a valid, reliable method for assessing V̇O2max in military personnel.
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