Kinanthropometry and Human Performance Laboratory, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil. ; Physical Education Post-graduate Associate Program, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brasil.
Kinanthropometry and Human Performance Laboratory, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil. ; Physical Education Post-graduate Associate Program, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brasil. ; Laboratory of Kinesiology and Biomechanics, Integrated Colleges of Patos, Patos, Brasil.
J Hum Kinet. 2014 Nov 12;43:113-24. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2014-0096. eCollection 2014 Sep 29.
Laboratory ergometers have high costs, becoming inaccessible for most of the population, hence, it is imperative to develop affordable devices making evaluations like cardiorespiratory fitness feasible and easier. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an Automated Step Ergometer (ASE), adjusted according to the height of the subject, for predicting VO2max through a progressive test. The development process was comprised by three steps, the theoretical part, the prototype assembly and further validation. The ASE consists in an elevating platform that makes the step at a higher or lower level as required for testing. The ASE validation was obtained by comparing the values of predicted VO2max (equation) and direct gas analysis on the prototype and on a, treadmill. For the validation process 167 subjects with average age of 31.24 ± 14.38 years, of both genders and different degrees of cardiorespiratory fitness, were randomized and divided by gender and training condition, into untrained (n=106), active (n=24) and trained (n=37) subjects. Each participant performed a progressive test on which the ASE started at the same height (20 cm) for all. Then, according to the subject's height, it varied to a maximum of 45 cm. Time in each stage and rhythm was chosen in accordance with training condition from lowest to highest (60-180 s; 116-160 bpm, respectively). Data was compared with the student's t test and ANOVA; correlations were tested with Pearson's r. The value of α was set at 0.05. No differences were found between the predicted VO2max and the direct gas analysis VO2max, nor between the ASE and treadmill VO2max (p= 0.365) with high correlation between ergometers (r= 0.974). The values for repeatability, reproducibility, and reliability of male and female groups measures were, respectively, 4.08 and 5.02; 0.50 and 1.11; 4.11 and 5.15. The values of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) among measures were all >0.90. It was verified that the ASE prototype was appropriate for a step test, provided valid measures of VO2max and could therefore, be used as an ergometer to measure cardiorespiratory fitness.
实验室测功计成本高昂，大多数人无法负担，因此，开发经济实惠的设备以使心肺功能等评估变得可行和更容易是当务之急。本研究的目的是开发和验证一种根据受试者身高调整的自动台阶测功计（ASE），以通过渐进式测试预测最大摄氧量。开发过程包括三个步骤，理论部分、原型组装和进一步验证。ASE 由一个提升平台组成，可以根据测试要求将台阶提升到更高或更低的水平。通过比较原型和跑步机上预测的最大摄氧量（方程）和直接气体分析值，验证了 ASE 的有效性。为了验证过程，167 名受试者平均年龄为 31.24 ± 14.38 岁，包括男性和女性以及不同程度的心肺功能，根据性别和训练条件随机分为未训练组（n=106）、活跃组（n=24）和训练组（n=37）。每位参与者都进行了一项渐进式测试，ASE 对所有参与者的起始高度均为 20 厘米（cm）。然后，根据受试者的身高，ASE 的高度最高可调整至 45 厘米。每个阶段的时间和节奏是根据训练条件从低到高选择的（分别为 60-180 秒和 116-160 次/分钟）。数据通过学生 t 检验和方差分析进行比较；相关性通过 Pearson r 进行检验。α 值设定为 0.05。预测的最大摄氧量和直接气体分析的最大摄氧量之间没有差异，ASE 和跑步机的最大摄氧量之间也没有差异（p=0.365），测功计之间具有高度相关性（r=0.974）。男性和女性组的重复性、再现性和可靠性测量值分别为 4.08 和 5.02；0.50 和 1.11；4.11 和 5.15。测量值的内部一致性（Cronbach's alpha）均大于 0.90。验证了 ASE 原型适用于台阶测试，提供了有效的最大摄氧量测量值，因此可作为测量心肺功能的测功计使用。
