title: Development of a branching submaximal treadmill test for predicting VO2max.
abstract: This study determined the reliability and validity of a branching treadmill protocol in predicting VO2max. Thirty-seven, apparently healthy individuals (19 women and 18 men); volunteered to participate. On 2 separate testing days, each subject underwent maximal exercise testing using the protocol developed. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that the percentage of age-predicted maximum heart rate (APMHR) achieved at stage 3, speed and grade at stage 3, and APMHR accounted for 89% of the variance in VO2max. The 4 predictor variables were statistically significant (p < 0.01), and the standard error of the estimate was 4.56 ml x kg(-1) min(-1). Results indicate that health and fitness professionals can incorporate this protocol into their practices for the purpose of predicting VO2max for their clients outside the laboratory environment. Furthermore, our results indicate that using the proposed regression model is reliable and has received preliminary construct validity support.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Swank
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serapiglia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durham
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Berning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results