Measurement of maximal oxygen uptake from two different laboratory protocols in runners and squash players

Purpose: The aims of the study were to assess whether different test protoc ols used to elicit maximal oxygen uptake values ((V)over dotO(2max)) attain similar results, whether different (V)over dotO(2max) protocols were prefe rable for different athletic groups, and to assess whether the noninvasive criteria used to indicate the attainment of (V)over dotO(2max) are achieved similarly in different (V)over dotO(2max) testing protocols. Methods: This study evaluated the attainment of either (V)over dotO(2max) or peak (V)ove r dotO(2) ((V)over dotO(2peak)) during two treadmill (V)over dotO(2max) pro tocols: a progressive speed protocol (PSP) and a progressive incline protoc ol (PIP). Ten runners and 10 squash players were studied to assess whether achievement of (V)over dotO(2max) criteria was either sport-specific or pro tocol-specific, or both. Results: There were no significant differences in the (V)over dotO(2peak) values reached in either PSP or PLP protocol (64.4 +/- 5.9 vs 66.5 +/- 6.0 mLO(2).kg(-1).min(-1)). But HRmax (196 +/- 5 vs 189 +/- 5 beats.min(-1); PSP vs PP; P < 0.01) and RER (1.14 +/- 0.05 vs 1.07 /- 0.04; PSP vs PIP; P < 0.01) were significantly higher during the PSP tes t. Fifty percent of the subjects reached a plateau in either test, and of t hese subjects, 90% satisfied the three noninvasive criteria for (V)over dot O(2max) in the PSP group, compared with 10% in the PIP group. Conclusions: The indirect criteria used to assess the attainment of (V)over dotO(2max) m ay be limited, as the (V)over dotO(2peak) values were higher in the PTP pro tocol compared with the PSP protocol, although not significantly different, whereas the HR and RER values were significantly lower in the PIP than PSP protocol. Furthermore, only 50% of subjects demonstrated the plateau pheno menon in oxygen uptake with either protocol. It may be concluded that the m easured physiological variables coinciding with (V)over dotO(2peak) may dif fer when different protocols are used to elicit (V)over dotO(2max).