ISSN:
1741-0444
Keywords:
Exercise testing
;
Exponential work rate forcing
;
VO2-kinetics
;
First-order dynamics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract A new exercise protocol has been proposed, with respect to cardiopulmonary exercise testing, which starts at a low work rate (WR) and increases exponentially by a standard percentage of the previous work rate every minute: the test is termed STEEP (standardised exponential exercise protocol). The potential advantage of this protocol is that it can accommodate a wide range of subjects, since it allows a maximum to be attained with a relatively narrow variation of tolerance time, regardless of subjects exercise capacity. To date, only the VO 2max has been compared with that from the current standard ramp protocol. The ramp, however, also allows other important parameters of aerobic function to be estimated: the anaerobic threshold (AT); the response time constant; and ΔVO2/ΔWR. The aim of this study was, therefore, to clarify whether these aerobic parameters can be readily discerned from the responses to the STEEP protocol both from a theoretical and practical viewpoint. As a result of theoretical considerations, we demonstrated that the VO2 time constant and ΔVO2/ΔWR may not both be estimated uniquely. As a practical expedient, a procedure was proposed for estimating the parameter analogues. The preliminary results for six subjects between the STEEP and ramp protocols showed consistent positive correlation for VO 2max (r=0.997) and AT-VO2 (r=0.980), whereas the correlation for the VO2 time constant and ΔVO2/ΔWR were not significant. Further study is needed to clarify the reason(s) for the discrepancies both from a theoretical and practical viewpoint.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02345013
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