Can submaximal exercise variables predict peak exercise performance in women with chronic fatigue syndrome?
This study aimed at examining whether physiological exercise variables at the submaximal level, defined as 75% of the age-predicted target heart rate, are able to predict peak exercise performance in women with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (n=222). Subjects performed a bicycle ergometric test against a graded increase in workload until exhaustion with continuous monitoring of electrocardiographic and ventilatory variables. Oxygen uptake at the submaximal level (VO2SUBMAX) correlated strongly with peak oxygen uptake (VO2PEAK) (r=0.70). For the prediction of VO2PEAK, linear regression analysis determined the line of best fit as: VO2PEAK=0.95xVO2SUBMAX+372.3. Using this equation, the mean error in the prediction was 14.6+/-11.2% (range 0.1-63.7%). It is concluded that the prediction of VO2PEAK based on VO2SUBMAX might be useful for analyzing group differences or treatment effects but not for individual (clinical) purposes.
Nijs
Jo
J
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium. Jo.Nijs@vub.ac.be
Demol
Seppe
S
Wallman
Karen
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013223:Statistics as Topic