Elicitation of Maximal Oxygen Uptake from Standing Bicycle Ergometry

Abstract

Twelve male university students were tested twice on each of three continuous max [Vdot]RO₂ protocols for treadmill running, pedaling on a bicycle ergometer while seated, and pedaling on a bicycle ergometer while standing. A comparison of the results failed to reveal any differences among protocols for pulmonary ventilation (max [Vdot]R_E). For max [Vdot]RO₂ (both liters [mdot] minute^-1 and ml [mdot] minute^-1. kg^-1) all differences were significant with the highest value associated with treadmill running, the intermediate with cycling in the standing position, and the lowest with cycling while seated. Max heart rate (HR) was significantly higher on the treadmill than on either bicycle protocol, and the respiratory exchange ratio (R) was higher on the sitting bicycle task than on the standing bicycle task. No other differences among protocols were significant. Although the reliability coefficients for all protocols (range was from r = .95 to r = .97) and the intercorrelation coefficients among protocols (range was r = .93 to r = .94) were quite high, the magnitude of the standard errors of estimate tended to limit the ability to predict a subject's max [Vdot]RO₂ on the treadmill based upon his measured max [Vdot]RO₂ employing either a sitting or standing bicycle protocol.