title: The validity and reliability of predicting maximal oxygen uptake from a treadmill-based sub-maximal perceptually regulated exercise test.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine for the first time whether VO2max could be predicted accurately and reliably from a treadmill-based perceptually regulated exercise test (PRET) incorporating a safer and more practical upper limit of RPE 15 ("Hard") than used in previous investigations. Eighteen volunteers (21.7 +/- 2.8 years) completed three treadmill PRETs (each separated by 48 h) and one maximal graded exercise test. Participants self-regulated their exercise at RPE levels 9, 11, 13 and 15 in a continuous and incremental fashion. Oxygen uptake VO2 was recorded continuously during each 3 min bout. VO2 values for the RPE range 9-15 were extrapolated to RPE(19) and RPE(20) using regression analysis to predict individual VO2max scores. The optimal limits of agreement (LoA) between actual (48.0 +/- 6.2 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) and predicted scores were -0.6 +/- 7.1 and -2.5 +/- 9.4 ml kg(-1) min(-1) for the RPE(20) and RPE(19) models, respectively. Reliability analysis for the VO2max predictions yielded LoAs of 1.6 +/- 8.5 (RPE(20)) and 2.7 +/- 9.4 (RPE(19)) ml kg(-1) min(-1) between trials 2 and 3. These findings demonstrate that (with practice) a novel treadmill-based PRET can yield predictions of VO2max that are acceptably reliable and valid amongst young, healthy, and active adults.
authors.affiliation: University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayton
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cotterrell
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult