Test-Retest Reliability and Sex-Dependent Responses for Physiological and Perceptual Variables at Sub-Maximal...

Background: Fatigue thresholds such as the gas exchange threshold (GET) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) describe unique physiological responses. This study investigated the reliability of, and sex-dependent responses for, the GET and RCP across absolute, relative, and normalized expressions of volume of oxygen consumption (V˙O₂), power output (PO), heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Methods: A test-retest graded exercise test (GXT) protocol was conducted on healthy, recreationally trained males (n = 9) and females (n = 9) to determine the GET and RCP (V˙O₂). Linear regression was used to identify the PO, HR, and RPE at the GET and RCP. Separate 2 [test (1, 2)] × 2 [sex (male, female)] mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined systematic error across test and sex (p > 0.05). Separate reliability analyses were conducted for each variable for males and females using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC_2,1), minimal differences (MDs), standard errors of measure (SEMs), and coefficients of variation (CVs). Results: Absolute and relative expression of PO and V˙O₂ at the GET and RCP reflected "excellent" relative reliability (R = 0.816-0.978) across sex. Absolute and normalized expression of HR and RPE at the GET and RCP demonstrated "good" to "poor" relative reliability (R= -0.093-0.886) across sex. The SEMs and MDs were relatively small with CVs at or below 10% across thresholds. Absolute PO and V˙O₂ for the GET and RCP were greater for males than females, while females demonstrated greater normalized RCP as well as absolute and normalized HR and RPE at the RCP. Conclusions: Although the relative reliability for HR and RPE at the GET and RCP was, in some cases, limited, these variables demonstrated acceptable absolute reliability and, therefore, have applicability to monitor and prescribe exercise intensities. Current exercise prescription techniques may neglect the unique sex-dependent perceptual and cardiovascular responses at the GET and RCP.