MEASUREMENT OF OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION WITH THE COSMED-K2 - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

An instrument that accurately measures oxygen consumption (V(O2)) duri ng field performance is valuable for investigations of physiological w orkload. Cosmed (Rome, Italy) has introduced such an instrument, the C osmed K2. In this study the Cosmed K2 was compared with the Oxyconbeta (Jaeger, Breda, The Netherlands) to investigate the reliability of th e ventilatory data obtained with the Cosmed K2. The measured values of the Cosmed K2 ranged from 780 to 3700 ml min-1. When measuring light to heavy work situations (V(O2) < 1400 ml min-1), the Cosmed K2 did no t reproduce very well. This random error prohibits accurate measuremen ts on individuals for those workloads. In very heavy to extremely heav y work situations (V(O2) > 1500 ml min-1) the Cosmed K2 measured oxyge n consumption values that were too low. This systematic error can be c orrected. A correction relation was calculated by comparing the result s of the Cosmed K2 with those of the Oxyconbeta in a laboratory settin g. In the field of ergonomics, where mean values of workloads have to be determined, the Cosmed K2 can be used. In the field of sports, wher e individual improvement is important, the Cosmed K2 can be useful to measure oxygen consumption at moderate and high strain levels (V(O2) > 1500 ml min-1).