Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Reproducibility of maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing for young cystic fibrosis patients
Zoe L Saynor1, Alan R Barker, Patrick J Oades
1Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.
Background:
The reproducibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has not been established in young cystic fibrosis (CF) patients using a valid protocol.
Methods:
Thirteen 7-18 year olds completed three CPETs, separated by 48 h and 4-6 weeks. CPET involved a ramp-incremental cycling test with supramaximal verification.
Results:
Maximal oxygen uptake was repeatedly determined with no learning effect and typical errors expressed as a coefficient of variation (TE(CV%)) of 9.3% (48 h) and 13.3% (4-6 weeks). The reproducibility of additional parameters of aerobic function [gas exchange threshold (TE(CV%): 11.2%, 16.8%); VO2 mean response time (TE(CV%): 37.8%, 89.4%); VO2 gain (TE(CV%): 17.4%, 24.5%)] and clinical utility [e.g. SaO2% (TE(CV%): 2.2%, 3.1%); ventilatory drive (V(E)/VCO2-slope) (TE(CV%): 7.8%, 17.7%)] was also established over the short- and the medium-term, respectively.
Conclusion:
These results establish limits of variability to determine meaningful changes over the short- and the medium-term for CPET outcomes in young CF patients.
