title: Suitability of verification testing to confirm attainment of VO₂max in middle-aged and older adults.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to test the utility of the verification testing procedure in confirming "true" VO₂max in older adults completing maximal cycle ergometry. Eighteen physically active men and women (age = 59.7 ± 6.3 yr, ht = 173.0 ± 8.8 cm, body mass = 83.2 ± 16.4 kg, VO₂max = 27.7 ± 5.0 mL/kg/min) completed incremental exercise, and returned 1 h after incremental exercise to complete a verification phase of constant load exercise at 105% peak work rate. During exercise, gas exchange data and heart rate (HR) were continuously monitored. VO₂max was similar (p > 0.05) between incremental and verification bouts (2329 ± 762 mL/min vs. 2309 ± 760 mL/min). Findings support use of the verification procedure to confirm VO₂max attainment in active, middle-aged and older adults completing incremental cycle ergometry. This is particularly relevant to interpretation of studies that have used repeated measurements of VO₂max to establish a training effect or when VO₂max is used for designing exercise prescriptions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. lance.dalleck@mnsu.edu
authors.forename: Lance C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Dalleck
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Astorino
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Caitlin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Alyssa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Beadell
authors.forename: Brigette H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Botten
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016552:Ergometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*