Validity and reliability of the YMCA submaximal cycle test using an electrically braked ergometer

Author

Justin Kidd, James Madison UniversityFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Date of Graduation

Spring 2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Department of Kinesiology

Advisor(s)

Christopher J. Womack

Nicholas D. Luden

Michael J. Saunders

Abstract

Purpose: To test the effect of using an electrically braked ergometer on the validity and reliability of the YMCA submaximal cycle test.

Methods: 22 male and 13 female subjects ages 19 to 31 completed one maximal treadmill test and four submaximal cycle tests to measure and estimate VO_2max, respectively. The maximal tests involved recording heart rate and VO₂ during graded exercise until volitional fatigue; an actual max was verified when two out of the following criteria: respiratory Exchange Ratio > 1.1, VO₂ plateau (< 150 ml/min increase in VO₂ during final stage), and achievement of 90% age-predicted HR max (or completed a validation stage). The submaximal tests were conducted in accordance with ACSM guidelines (10^th ed.). Measured and predicted VO_2max measurements were compared between tests using repeated measures ANOVA and Pearson correlations.

Results: The treadmill VO_2max protocol yielded significantly higher values (50.3 ± 7.7 mL/kg/min) than the YMCA submax protocol using a friction-braked (40.8 ± 5.5 mL/kg/min) and electrically braked ergometer (38.8 ± 4.5 mL/kg/min). Furthermore, estimated VO_2max using the friction-braked ergometer was higher than that observed using the electrically braked ergometer. There were similar reliability coefficients between the friction-braked (R = 0.63) and electrically braked (R = 0.52) ergometers. Lastly, a moderately strong (R = 0.74) relationship was observed between actual VO_2max and prediction error (VO_2max - estimated VO_2max).

Conclusion: Both Monark and Viasprint ergometers severely underestimated VO_2max in a sample of generally fit, young individuals. Future investigations should explore the possible relationship between higher aerobic fitness and accuracy of predicting VO_2max via HR response.

Recommended Citation

Kidd, Justin, "Validity and reliability of the YMCA submaximal cycle test using an electrically braked ergometer" (2018). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 602.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/602