Evaluating the suitability of supra-PO_peak verification trials after ramp-incremental exercise to confirm the attainment of maximum O₂ uptake

Abstract

During exhaustive ramp-incremental cycling tests, the incidence of O₂ uptake (V̇o₂) plateaus is low. To verify the attainment of maximum V̇o₂ (V̇o_2max), it is recommended that a trial at a power output (PO) corresponding to 110% of the ramp-derived peak (PO_peak) is performed. It remains unclear whether verification trials set at this PO can be tolerated for long enough to allow attainment of V̇o_2max. Eleven recreationally trained individuals performed five ramp tests of varying slope (5, 10, 15, 25, and 30 W/min), each followed, in series, by two verification trials: the first at 110% PO_peak of the 25 W/min ramp and the second at 110% PO_peak attained in the preceding ramp test. Exercise duration of the first verification trial was on average 81 ± 15 s (CV = 9 ± 3%) versus 162 ± 32, 121 ± 24, 103 ± 15, and 73 ± 10 s for the second verification trials at 110% of PO_peak of the 5, 10, 15, and 30 W/min ramp tests, respectively (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Compared with the highest V̇o₂ recorded during ramp tests, V̇o₂ from the subsequent verification trials was not different for the 5, 10, and 15 W/min ramp tests (<i>P</i> > 0.05) but was lower for the 25 and 30 W/min ramp tests (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Verification trials at 110% PO_peak of rapidly incrementing ramp tests (i.e., 25 W/min) were not sustained for long enough to allow the attainment of V̇o_2max. With commonly used rapidly incrementing ramp tests engendering exhaustion within 8-12 min, verification trials less than PO_peak should be preferred as they can be sustained sufficiently long to allow the attainment of V̇o_2max.