Effect of the Canadian Air Force training programme on a submaximal exercise test

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cardiorespiratory Health

Background:

• Assessing cardiorespiratory fitness changes requires a reliable physiological index.
• The submaximal heart rate/oxygen consumption relationship's validity as a fitness marker needed confirmation through systematic changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the submaximal heart rate/oxygen consumption relationship as an index of cardiorespiratory fitness.
• To determine if this relationship systematically alters with training and detraining.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal training and detraining study was conducted on sedentary adults using the 5BX-XBX exercise program.
• Submaximal exercise tests were performed pre-training, post-training, and post-detraining.
• Regression analysis of submaximal heart rate on oxygen consumption was used to assess changes in slope and elevation.

Main Results:

• Subjects showed significant, systematic alterations in the elevation of the heart rate/oxygen consumption regression lines corresponding to training and detraining periods.
• Reproducibility tests indicated random, non-significant alterations in the relationship during repeated testing or over normal activity periods.

Conclusions:

• The elevation of the submaximal heart rate/oxygen consumption relationship is a valid and sensitive index for detecting sequential changes in individual cardiorespiratory fitness.
• This finding supports its use in monitoring fitness status over time.