Comparison of the YMCA and a Custom Submaximal Exercise Test for Determining VO2max

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cardiorespiratory Fitness Assessment
• Public Health

Background:

• Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is a key predictor of all-cause mortality.
• Accurate assessment of VO2max is vital for health and performance.
• The widely used YMCA submaximal test has demonstrated questionable validity in estimating VO2max.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a novel Mankato submaximal exercise test (MSET) for estimating VO2max.
• To compare the accuracy of the MSET against the established YMCA protocol.
• To investigate the MSET's ability to account for the nonlinear relationship between VO2 and power output.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-six participants completed a graded exercise test and a verification bout to determine "true" VO2max.
• Participants underwent both the YMCA test and the MSET in a counterbalanced order.
• The MSET involved two 3-minute stages at 35% and 65-70% of estimated VO2max, using a regression equation for estimation.

Main Results:

• The MSET (43.6 ± 8.6 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) provided estimates that did not differ from "true" VO2max (45.1 ± 8.89 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹).
• The YMCA test (41.1 ± 9.6 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) significantly underestimated "true" VO2max (P = 0.002).
• The MSET showed moderate correlation (ICC = 0.73) with "true" VO2max, while the YMCA test showed poor correlation (ICC = 0.29).

Conclusions:

• The MSET offers a more accurate estimation of VO2max compared to the YMCA protocol.
• The MSET's inclusion of a stage exceeding the gas exchange threshold contributes to its improved accuracy.
• This study is the first to compare submaximal protocols against a verified VO2max protocol, highlighting the MSET's potential clinical utility.