Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sampling strategy (i.e., number of breaths) on measured peak rate of oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) elicited by a range of severe intensity exercise bouts. The hypothesis was that a smaller sample (i.e., fewer breaths) would produce a higher measure of V̇O2peak and that this effect would be greater in shorter tests than in longer tests. Thirty-three university students performed constant-power cycle ergometer tests at intensities selected to elicit fatigue in ~3.0 min (short duration), ~5.5 min (medium duration), and ~8.0 min (long duration). Values for V̇O2peak were the highest rates of oxygen uptake obtained using the following sampling methods: single breath, and 3-, 5-, 15- and 30-breath rolling averages. As hypothesized, measures of V̇O2peak increased systematically with decreasing sample size. Contrary to the hypothesis, the effect of sample size was greater in medium duration and long duration tests than in the short duration tests. The interaction between test duration and sample size on measures of V̇O2peak highlights the importance of standardizing the analysis protocol for exercise in the severe domain. If such standardization is not feasible, it should be recognized that specific analysis protocols may exert a substantial effect upon the reported V̇O2peak.
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Hill, D.W., Stephens, L.P., Blumoff-Ross, S.A. et al. Effect of sampling strategy on measures of V̇O2peak obtained using commercial breath-by-breath systems. Eur J Appl Physiol 89, 564–569 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0843-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0843-1