Determination of Best Criteria to Determine Final and Initial Speeds within Ramp Exercise Testing Protocols

This study compared strategies to define final and initial speeds for designing ramp protocols. V O 2 max  was directly assessed in 117 subjects (29 ± 8 yrs) and estimated by three nonexercise models: (1) Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ); (2) Rating of Perceived Capacity (RPC); (3) Questionnaire of Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF). Thirty seven subjects (30 ± 9 yrs) performed three additional tests with initial speeds corresponding to 50% of estimated V O 2 max  and 50% and 60% of measured V O 2 max  . Significant differences ( P < 0.001) were found between V O 2 max  measured (41.5 ± 6.6 mL · kg −1 · min −1 ) and estimated by VSAQ (36.6 ± 6.6 mL · kg −1 · min −1 ) and CRF (45.0 ± 5.3 mL · kg −1 · min −1 ), but not RPC (41.3 ± 6.2 mL · kg −1 · min −1 ). The CRF had the highest ICC, the lowest SEE, and better limits of agreement with V O 2 max  compared to the other instruments. Initial speeds from 50%–60% V O 2 max  estimated by CRF or measured produced similar V O 2 max  (40.7 ± 5.9; 40.0 ± 5.6; 40.3 ± 5.5 mL · kg −1 · min −1 resp., P = 0.14). The closest relationship to identity line was found in tests beginning at 50% V O 2 max  estimated by CRF. In conclusion, CRF was the best option to estimate V O 2 max  and therefore to define the final speed for ramp protocols. The measured V O 2 max  was independent of initial speeds, but speeds higher than 50% V O 2 max  produced poorer submaximal relationships between workload and V O 2 .