Validity of the revised Ekblom Bak cycle ergometer test in adults.
OBJECTIVE
To further develop the Ekblom Bak-test prediction equation for estimation of VO2max from submaximal cycle ergometry.


METHODS
The model group (117 men and 100 women, aged 48.3 ± 15.7 and 46.1 ± 16.8 years, VO2max 46.6 ± 11.1 and 40.4 ± 9.6 mL kg(-1) min(-1), respectively) and the cross-validation group (60 men and 55 women, aged 40.6 ± 17.1 and 41.6 ± 16.7 years, VO2max 49.0 ± 12.1 and 43.2 ± 8.9 mL min(-1) kg(-1), respectively) performed 4 min of cycling on a standard work rate (30 W) directly followed by 4 min on a higher work rate. Heart rate (HR) at each work rate was recorded. Thereafter, participants completed a graded maximal treadmill test for direct measurement of oxygen uptake. The new prediction equation was cross-validated and accuracy compared with the original Ekblom Bak equation as well as by the Åstrand test method.


RESULTS
The final sex-specific regression models included age, change in HR per-unit change in power (ΔHR/ΔPO), the difference in work rates (ΔPO), and HR at standard work rate as independent variables. The adjusted R (2) for the final models were 0.86 in men and 0.83 in women. The coefficient of variation (CV) was 8.7 % and SEE 0.28 L min(-1). The corresponding CV and SEE values for the EB-test2012 and the Åstrand tests were 10.9 and 18.1 % and 0.35 and 0.48 L min(-1), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The new EB-test prediction equation provides an easy administered and valid estimation of VO2max for a wide variety of ages (20-86 years) and fitness levels (19-76 mL kg(-1) min(-1)).
Åstrand Laboratory of Work Physiology, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Box 5626, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden. frida.bjorkman@gih.se.
Frida
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8353-3766
F
Björkman
Åstrand Laboratory of Work Physiology, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Box 5626, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
Elin
E
Ekblom-Bak
Åstrand Laboratory of Work Physiology, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Box 5626, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
Örjan
Ö
Ekblom
Åstrand Laboratory of Work Physiology, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Box 5626, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
Björn
B
Ekblom
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
Cardiorespiratory fitness; Estimation; Oxygen uptake; Public health; Submaximal test; Validity