Prediction of Cardiorespiratory Fitness from Maximal Anaerobic Capacity
Creators: name: Tanner, Elizabeth Ann
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2017

description: Incremental treadmill VO2max protocols are often considered the superior method of assessing cardiorespiratory fitness. These exercise test protocols stress aerobic energy production pathways. However, at the point of VO2max attainment anaerobic energy systems are the predominant mechanisms of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Likewise, the Wingate cycle test, a commonly accepted method of anaerobic capacity assessment stresses anaerobic energy pathways. Based on the utilization of energy production pathways at the point of VO2max and maximal anaerobic capacity attainment a relationship between VO2max and Wingate exercise test protocols may exist. This potential relationship may facilitate the prediction of cardiorespiratory fitness from maximal anaerobic capacity assessed by an incremental treadmill VO2max test and Wingate cycle test respectively. The purpose of this study is to develop prediction equations (gender-independent, gender specific) that predict maximal aerobic capacity using anaerobic power measurements (peak power, mean power, fatigue index) obtained during a 30 second Wingate cycle test as the primary predictor variables along with demographics (sex, age), anthropometrics (height, weight, body fat, seven site skinfolds, thigh girth, hip girth) and resting heart rate as secondary predictor variables. Participants (N=72) completed an incremental treadmill VO2max protocol followed by a Wingate cycle test separated by a 15-20 minute rest period. Eight participants failed to satisfy true VO2max attainment criteria, therefore 64 participants were included in statistical analysis (men n=32; women n=32). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to develop gender-independent and gender specific cardiorespiratory fitness prediction models. Standard error of estimate (SEE) and percent of standard error of estimate (SEE%) were used to assess model accuracy. Predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) statistics were used to assess model stability. Significance was accepted at the p²0.05 level. For the gender-independent prediction model sex, height, weight, triceps skinfold, thigh skinfold, body fat, thigh girth, hip girth, resting heart rate (RHR), peak power (PP), mean power (MP), and fatigue index (FI) were significantly correlated to VO2max (r= -0.79, p<0.001; r=0.74, p<0.001; r=0.74, p<0.001; r= -0.53, p=<0.001; r= -0.56, p<0.001; r= -0.60, p<0.001; r=0.42, p=0.001; r=0.35, p=0.005; r= -0.28; p=0.023; r=0.78, p<0.001; r=0.77, p<0.001; r=0.36, p=0.004) respectively. However, peak power (PP), weight, body fat, and RHR were the only significant contributors to the model (p<0.05) producing the following prediction model: _ = 2.627 + (0.001_PP) + (0.037_weight) + (-5.315_body fat) + (-0.019_RHR). This model was determined to be accurate (SEE= 0.37; SEE%=10.89) and stable (R2 = 0.841 vs. R2PRESS = 0.782; SEE = 0.37 vs. SEEPRESS = 0.41). For the male specific model height, weight, thigh girth, PP, MP, and FI were significantly correlated to VO2max (r=0.39, p=0.029; r=0.36, p=0.04; r=0.41, p=0.021; r=0.62, p<0.001; r=0.61, p<0.001; r=0.36, p=0.045) respectively. PP was the only significant contributor to the model revealing the following model: _ = 2758 + (0.002_PP). This model is slightly less accurate than the gender-independent model (SEE=0.49; SEE%=11.98) but not stable (R2 = 0.380 vs. R2PRESS = -0.041; SEE = 0.49 vs. SEEPRESS = 0.61). For the female specific model height, weight, thigh girth, RHR, and MP were significantly correlated to VO2max (r=0.57, p=0.001; r=0.60, p<0.001; r=0.49, p=0.004; r= -0.48, p=0.006; r=0.37; p=0.029) respectively. To maintain an anaerobic power measurement, MP was the only predictor maintained in the model producing a simple linear regression model (_ = 2.061 + 0.002_MP). This model is the least accurate (SEE=0.45; SEE%=16.78) and unstable (R2 = 0.149 vs. R2PRESS = 0.018; SEE = 0.45 vs. SEEPRESS = 0.50). The results of this study indicate the gender-independent model can be generalized to an independent sample of highly active college aged adults. The gender specific models predict VO2max to a similar degree of accuracy to the gender-independent model however, these models are not stable. Therefore, the application of the gender specific models to independent samples of highly active college aged men and women is cautioned.