Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
A new non exercise-based VO2max prediction equation for patients with chronic low back pain
Ivan Leonardo Duque1, José-Hernán Parra, Alain Duvallet
1Departamento de Acción Física Humana, Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud, Universidad de Caldas, Carrera 25 No 48-57, Manizales, Colombia. duqueivan@ucaldas.edu.co
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INTRODUCTION The measurement of the maximal oxygen uptake as a parameter of cardiorespiratory fitness is useful in exercise prescription in functional restoration programs but this measurement requires the subject's maximal exertion which is not always possible in patients with chronic low back pain. The purpose of this study was to develop a regression equation to predict maximal oxygen uptake based on non-exercise data in adult patients with chronic low back pain.
Methods:
Cross sectional study in which 70 participants completed a maximal graded exercise test in cycle ergometer to assess maximal oxygen uptake.
Results:
Patients achieved a mean +/- SD value of VO(2)max of 30.8 (+/-7.7) ml kg(-1) min(-1). The regression model included as data of non-exercise the patient's gender, body mass index and the intensity of physical activity during leisure time. Multiple linear regression analysis generated the following formula (R (2) = 38.3, SEE = 6.08 ml kg(-1) min(-1)): VO(2)max (ml kg(-1) min(-1)) = 35.3377 - 0.475411 x BMI + 0.155232 x PALT + 7.97682 x gender; where BMI = body mass index, PALT = physical activity during leisure time, women = 0, men = 1. The Durbin Watson statistic showed no problems with serial autocorrelation (D-W = 1.86). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test demonstrated that the errors are distributed normally.
Conclusions:
This study provides a new and relatively precise non-exercise regression model to predict VO(2)max in patients with chronic low back pain.
