Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(4): 291-297
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-39503
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Time Spent at V˙O2max: a Methodological Issue

G.  Dupont1 , N.  Blondel1, 2 , S.  Berthoin1
  • 1Laboratoire d’Etudes de la Motricité Humaine, Faculté des Sciences du Sport et de l’Education Physique, Université de Lille 2, France
  • 2Laboratoire d’Analyses Multidisciplinaires des Pratiques Sportives, UFR-STAPS, Université d’Artois, France
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: November 15, 2002

Publication Date:
04 June 2003 (online)

Abstract

This study was designed to propose a standardised procedure to determine the time spent at V˙O2max (tV˙O2max) based on the V˙O2max of the day (i. e. the V˙O2max value measured the day of the test). Ten male subjects first performed a graded field test, followed by a continuous running exercise to exhaustion, at the velocity of the Université de Montréal Track Test (VUMTT) plus 1 km × h-1 (VUMTT+ 1). The second test consisted of an exhaustive run at 100 % of VUMTT, followed by a VUMTT+ 1 test. Different methods were used to compare time spent at V˙O2max, based on the V˙O2max of the graded field test, and time spent at V˙O2max, based on the V˙O2max of the day, during an exhaustive run at 100 % of VUMTT. Results have shown that VUMTT+ 1 tests were of sufficient intensity and duration to identify the V˙O2max of the day. Time spent at V˙O2max ranged from 25 ± 53 s to 139 ± 76 s according to the method used. However, the tV˙O2max method based on the sum of each value higher than 95 % of V˙O2max of the day appeared more robust than methods based on the time to exhaustion minus time to reach V˙O2 reference value, or the method based on the sum of values higher than V˙O2max minus 2.1 ml × kg-1 × min-1.

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S. Berthoin

Laboratoire d’Etudes de la Motricité Humaine

Faculté des Sciences du Sport et de l’Education Physique · 9, rue de l’Université · 59790 Ronchin · France ·

Phone: (33) 320 88 73 66

Fax: (33) 320 88 73 63

Email: berthoin@hp.sc-univ-lille2.fr