Prediction of Vo2 max in healthy non-athlete men based on ventilatory threshold

Abstract

The VO2max measures provide efficiency in exercise prescription, due to a precise evaluation of one’s physical conditioning level. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a VO2max prediction model based on ventilatory threshold indicators on maximal effort test in healthy non-athlete male. Accordingly, 3.147 healthy non-athlete male aged 20 and older volunteered to be tested on a cycle ergometer using a maximum incremental protocol. The subjects were randomly assigned into 2 groups: group A (estimation) and group B (validation). The independent variables were: weight in kilograms (weight), second workload threshold (WT2), and heart rate of the second threshold (HRT2). The cross-validation method was used in group B with group A serving as the basis for building the model and the validation dataset. The results presented a multiple linear regression model to predict VO2max (VO2max = 39.027 – 0.405 (weight) – 0.002 (HRT2) + 0.189 (WT2) in ml O2/kg/min-1; r = 0.995 and SEE = 0.96 mlO2/Kg/min-1). The construction of this model allows to demonstrate that it is possible to predict VO2max with a minimum error (SEE = 1.00%) from ventilatory threshold indicators obtained in an incremental test, in healthy non-athlete male.