Comparison of VO 2 max Estimations for Maximal and Submaximal Exercise Tests in Apparently Healthy Adults.

Due to limited accessibility, direct measurement of VO2 max is rarely performed in clinical settings or sports centers. As a result, regression equations have been developed and are currently used during exercise tests to provide an indirect estimation. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has recommended a regression equation for running to provide an indirect estimation of VO2 . However, significant differences have been observed between these estimations and directly measured VO2 max. Additionally, since submaximal assessments may be more convenient for both athletes and sedentary/diseased individuals, they were included in the analysis. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of VO2 max estimations provided using the ACSM running equation when used during both maximal and submaximal exercise tests among adult runners. A total of 99 apparently healthy and active adults (age: 39.9 ± 12.2 years; VO2 max: 47.4 ± 6.0 mL O2 /kg∙min-1 ) participated in this study. Two types of submaximal estimations were performed to predict VO2 max: one based on age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (ACSMsubmax,Fox ), and the second using the actual HRmax measured during the exercise test (ACSMsubmax,measured ). The measured VO2 max was compared to these estimations obtained from a single exercise test. Both maximal and submaximal exercise tests significantly overestimated VO2 max (ACSMmax : +9.8, p < 0.001; ACSMsubmax,Fox : +3.4, p < 0.001; ACSMsubmax,measured : +3.8 mL O2 /kg∙min-1 , p < 0.001). However, the submaximal estimations were closer to the measured VO2 max ( p < 0.001). This analysis demonstrated that the included methods overestimated the true VO2 max. Nonetheless, the submaximal exercise tests provided a more accurate prediction of VO2 max compared to the maximal exercise tests when using the ACSM running equation.