A Perceptually Regulated Exercise Test for Predicting Maximal Oxygen Consumption in Masters Track-and-Field Athletes

Submaximal exercise tests may be preferred over maximal tests for many reasons related to health or performance. It is unknown if a submaximal perceptually regulated exercise test is a valid assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) in master athletes. We assessed the validity of a submaximal perceptually regulated exercise test in predicting V˙O2max in masters track-and-field athletes.

Fifty-five athletes (n = 21 females, age = 63 ± 11 years; V˙O2max=49.7±11.0 ml·kg-1·min-1) competing at the World Masters Athletics Championships completed both a graded exercise test to volitional exhaustion to directly measure V˙O2max and a submaximal perceptually regulated exercise test, wherein the athletes self-regulated exercise intensity based on perceived exertion with V˙O2 collected at four stages, ranging from very light to hard/heavy, and extrapolated to ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) 18, 19, and 20, and to age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax).

Extrapolation to RPE 20 significantly overpredicted V˙O2max (+3.7 ml·kg-1·min-1; p = .02), while values attained from extrapolations to RPE 18, RPE 19, and age-predicted HRmax were not significantly different from values achieved during the graded exercise test (p > .05). Correlations for predicting V˙O2max ranged from .68 to .71. Standard errors of the estimate for predicting V˙O2max ranged from 8.6 to 11.3 ml·kg-1·min-1.

Although V˙O2max predicted from a perceptually regulated exercise test is moderately correlated with actual V˙O2max, the standard errors of the estimate is too large to accurately track short-term changes in V˙O2max with aging or training. Significance/Implications: A perceptually regulated exercise test for estimating V˙O2max in masters athletes may not provide the necessary level of accuracy for tracking short-term changes in V˙O2max.