ANEW NON--EXERCISE-BASED VO₂MAX PREDICTION EQUATION FOR AEROBICALLY TRAINED MENz

Abstract

The purposes of the present study were to (a) modify previously published VO₂max equations using the constant error (CE = mean difference between actual and predicted VO₂max) values from Malek et al. (28); (b) cross-validate the modified equations to determine their accuracy for estimating VO₂max in aerobically trained men; (c) derive a new non–exercise-based equation for estimating VO₂max in aerobically trained men if the modified equations are not found to be accurate; and (d) cross-validate the new VO₂max equation using the predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) statistic and an independent sample of aerobically trained men. One hundred and fifty-two aerobically trained men (VO₂max mean ± SD = 4,154 ± 629 ml·min^-1) performed a maximal incremental test on a cycle ergometer to determine actual VO₂max. An aerobically trained man was defined as someone who had participated in continuous aerobic exercise 3 or more sessions per week for a minimum of 1 hour per session for at least the past 18 months. Nine previously published VO₂max equations were modified for use with aerobically trained men. The predicted VO₂max values from the 9 modified equations were compared to actual VO₂max by examining the CE, standard error of estimate (SEE), validity coefficient (r), and total error (TE). Cross-validation of the modified non–exercise-based equations on a random subsample of 50 subjects resulted in a %TE ≥ 13% of the mean of actual VO₂max. Therefore, the following non-exercise-based VO₂max equation was derived from a random subsample of 112 subjects: VO₂max (ml·min^-1) = 27.387(weight in kg) + 26.634(height in cm) - 27.572(age in years) + 26.161(h·wk^-1 of training) + 114.904(intensity of training using the Borg 6-20 scale) + 506.752(natural log of years of training) - 4,609.791 (R = 0.82, R² adjusted = 0.65, and SEE = 378 ml·min^-1). Cross-validation of this equation on the remaining sample of 40 subjects resulted in a %TE of 10%. Therefore, the non-exercise-based equation derived in the present study is recommended for estimating VO₂max in aerobically trained men.