The Use of an Indoor Rowing Ergometer Test for the Prediction of Maximal Oxygen Uptake

The Use of an Indoor Rowing Ergometer Test for the Prediction of Maximal Oxygen Uptake

based version of the multi stage fitness test.Methods: Forty one participants (25 men, 16 women; mean  ± SD; age 21 ± 5.3 years, height 175.4 ± 8.1cm, body mass 71.4 ± 12.6 kg) completed in a counter-balanced design: a treadmill running maximal oxygen uptake test (Treadmill - VO2max), a 2,000 m timed
row and an incremental rowing maximal oxygen uptake test (IRT - VO2max) where stroke rate was increased by one stroke each minute. A student’s paired sample t-test was used to determine differences in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and heart rate (HRmax) and a Pearson correlation coefficient to measure the relationships between VO2 during tests. Results: VO2max values were significantly higher in treadmill - VO2max (44.7 ± 6.5 ml•kg-1•min-1) than IRT - VO2max (42.2 ± 7.3 ml•kg-1•min-1; P<0.05). Maximum heart rate was significantly higher during the treadmill - VO2max (192 ± 10 beats.min-1) compared to the IRT - VO2max (184.3 ± 10.6 beats.min-1; P<0.05). A significant correlation was observed between treadmill - VO2max and the IRT - VO2max for VO2 (r=0.67). Gender specific linear regression equations were created to predict VO2max on the IRT from submaximal data (Males: Predicted VO2max (ml•kg-1•min-1)=2.30 (x) + 20.8, SEE=4.5; Females Predicted VO2max (ml•kg-1•min-1)=1.93(x) + 19.4, SEE=3.7). Conclusion: This new stroke rate based IRT provides a continuous test to exhaustion with minimal equipment which is suitable for the regular gym user to monitor their cardiorespiratory fitness.