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A method for predicting peak work rate for cycle ergometer and treadmill ramp tests
Author(s) -
Saengsuwan Jittima,
Nef Tobias,
Hunt Kenneth J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1111/cpf.12344
Subject(s) - treadmill , cycle ergometer , medicine , work rate , significant difference , work (physics) , bicycle ergometer , incremental exercise , cardiology , metabolic equivalent , physical therapy , heart rate , physical activity , blood pressure , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary Background Prediction of peak work rate ( WR peak) for incremental exercise testing ( IET ) is important to bring subjects to their maximal performance within the recommended 8–12 min. This study developed a novel method for prediction of WR peak for IET on cycles and treadmills. Methods Peak metabolic equivalent of task ( MET pred) was predicted based on an existing non‐exercise prediction formula, and then, predicted peak work rate ( WR pred) was derived from separate formulae for the cycle and the treadmill. Eighteen healthy subjects were included. Results In males, there was no difference between WR pred versus WR peak for both the cycle ergometer (277·7 versus 275·6 W, P = 0·70) and the treadmill (264·1 versus 260·5, P = 0·58). In females, there was no difference between WR pred versus WR peak for the cycle ergometer (187·1 versus 188·3 W, P = 0·90), but a significant difference was found between WR pred versus WR peak on the treadmill (178·6 versus 151·9 W, P <0·05). For males, the mean absolute percentage errors for WR pred versus WR peak were 4·6% and 5·7% for the cycle and treadmill, respectively. For females, the errors were 12·2% and 20·8%. The algorithm was successful in achieving the required duration of 8–12 min in 33 of 36 cases. Conclusions The peak work rate prediction protocol was accurate in male subjects for both the cycle and the treadmill. In female subjects, the method was accurate for the cycle, but systematically overpredicted the peak work rate on the treadmill. The protocol requires further adaptation for females on the treadmill.