Dr. Robergs
Fall, 2010
Recommended Protocol Durations For
Testing VO2max
Robert A. Robergs, Ph.D., FASEP, EPC
Director: Exercise Physiology Laboratories
Exercise Science Program
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
History
• In the beginning, intermittent protocol,
distributed over several days
• Early researching comparing protocols was more
for VO2max prediction than protocol development
• Buchfuhrer et al. (1983) was the first study
designed to assess protocol duration (8 – 17 min, 5
subjects/group)
• Astorino (2004) – 26 subjects; 6, 10, 14 min
treadmill protocols
VO2max Protocol Duration
1
Dr. Robergs
Fall, 2010
Current Recommendations
10 – 12 min, regardless of gender, age, fitness, health
Current Practice
5 – >25 min, regardless of gender, age, fitness, health
Methods
• 16 subjects (8 male, 8 female); cyclists, triathletes, moderate to high
VO2max
• males > 45 mL/kg/min; females > 40 mL/kg/min: cycle ergometry
• Familiarization test to determine VO2max, peak Watts, Watts
increment and protocol duration
5 min protocol: MPOF (Watts) / 5 (min) x 1.2
8 min protocol: MPOF (Watts) / 8 (min) x 1.1
12 min protocol: MPOF (Watts) /12 (min) x 1.0
16 min protocol: MPOF (Watts) /16 (min) x 0.9
VO2max Protocol Duration
2
Dr. Robergs
Fall, 2010
• Exercise tests completed in balanced Latin-squares order; 2 tests
each day, separated by 45 min on two different days.
• automated breath-by-breath indirect calorimetry.
• Data processed to determine VO2max and the VT.
• VO2 plateau was defined as VO2 time slope < 50 mL/min during
last 30 s of test.
• VT detected using VE/VO2 method.
VO2max Protocol Duration
3
Dr. Robergs
Fall, 2010
Results
Age (years)
Mean  SD
Males
Females
24.9  6.6
23.8  3.2
26.0  8.9
Height (cm)
171.9  10.6 180.7  6.0 163.1  5.4
Weight (kg)
66.8  11.1
75.7  6.9
57.8  5.6
Fat (%)
16.4  5.8
11.6  2.4
21.2  3.6
VO2max
(L/min)
3.66  0.88 4.44  0.39 2.87  0.36
Protocol durations (min)
Variable Mean  SD
Males
Females
5 min
5.05  0.17
5.12  0.18
4.98  0.13
8 min
7.77  0.23
7.84  0.20
7.69  0.26
12 min
11.53  0.42
11.49  0.45
11.58  0.40
16 min
16.25  0.42
16.02  0.37
16.49  0.31
VO2max Protocol Duration
4
Dr. Robergs
Fall, 2010
Watts at VO2max
450
400
350
300
250
200
5
8
12
16
VO2 Slope (L/min/min)
Test Time (min)
1.00
*
0.75
0.50
0.25
0.00
-0.25
5
8
12
16
Test Time (min)
VO2max Protocol Duration
5
Dr. Robergs
Fall, 2010
VO2 Plateau
Incidence
Protocol
Males
Females
5 min
1
1
8 min
3
6
12 min
2
4
16 min
5
4
4.75
*
4.50
VO2max (L/min)
VO2max (L/min)
a
5.0
4.25
4.00
3.75
3.50
3.25
3.00
*
4.5
4.0
Male
3.5
Female
3.0
2.5
2.75
2.0
2.50
5
8
12
Test Time (min)
VO2max Protocol Duration
16
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Time (min)
6
Dr. Robergs
Fall, 2010
Nadir = 7.998 min
% VO2max
100
-0.731 %VO2 max/min
98
1.084 %VO 2 max/min
96
94
2 segment regression
4th order polynomial
92
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Time (min)
Conclusions
• VO2max testing requires protocol durations between 6-10 min.
• More important for trained than untrained individuals.
• Exercise physiology needs to re-explore the science of protocol
development.
mi/Hr
b
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
VO2 (mL/kg/min)
90
75
60
45
30
15
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
%Grade
VO2max Protocol Duration
7