A Comparison of VO₂ Measurement Obtained by a Physiological Monitoring Device and the Cosmed Quark CPET

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of measurements of VO₂ as obtained by the Zephyr Bioharness (ZB) and the Cosmed Quark CPET Metabolic cart (CM). Both ZB and CM have been proven reliable by previous research. The ZB is portable and offers many practical advantages over CM, which requires greater expertise and expense, and tests must be completed in a laboratory setting. Aerobic capacity was assessed in a sample of college students (n=33). Subjects performed a maximal test using a treadmill protocol. Mean Ventilation (VE), mean heart rates (HR), respiratory exchange ratios (RER), and aerobic capacity (VO₂) were similar using both the ZB and the CM, with no significant differences observed. Because data varied very little, both methods are comparable, which indicates ZB is a practical solution for monitoring physiological variables outside of a laboratory setting.