ABILITY TO PREDICT IMPENDING VOLITIONAL EXHAUSTION BASED ON AEROBIC CAPACITY

Authors

DW Davis
JL Carducci
MJ Garver
WJ Stone
M Penumetcha
NM Philipp
JN Hair
JR Elledge
HR Williams
MT Oliphant
ZS Hopkins

Abstract

Dustin W. Davis¹, Jenna L. Carducci¹, Matthew J. Garver¹, Whitley J. Stone¹, Meera Penumetcha¹, Nicolas M. Philipp¹, Josie N. Hair¹, Jordan R. Elledge¹, Haley R. Williams¹, Matthew T. Oliphant¹, & Zachariah S. Hopkins¹

¹University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri

Maximal relative oxygen consumption (VO_2max), assessed via a treadmill test to volitional exhaustion, is the foremost measure of aerobic capacity in healthy, recreationally active young adults. Maximal VO₂ increases with chronic aerobic exercise. Habitual exercise may improve the ability to perceive exercise difficulty and predict exhaustion. PURPOSE: The primary aim of this investigation was to determine if a significant correlation (p < .05) existed between VO_2max and time to test termination after participants indicated they were 30 seconds from volitional exhaustion. A secondary aim was to ascertain if participants more accurately predicted impending volitional exhaustion during a repeated trial. METHODS: Thirteen (Females: 8, Males: 5) recreationally active individuals (20.7 ± 1.4 yrs., 72.4 ± 12.3 kg) completed a maximal treadmill test on two occasions separated by 36-72 h. Participants completed a familiarization trial to minimize learning effects and determine treadmill speed for maximal testing. Participants self-selected a zero-grade jogging speed associated with a value of 12-13 on Borg’s 6-20 RPE scale when in a steady-state. This speed was maintained during both maximal tests, with grade increasing 2% every two minutes until volitional exhaustion. Maximal VO₂ was measured as a 15-breath moving average via a metabolic cart. Participants were instructed before and during testing to tap loudly on the treadmill when they perceived themselves to be 30 seconds from volitional exhaustion. RESULTS: Mean VO_2max during session 1 was 47.0 ± 7.4 ml⋅kg^-1⋅min^-1, and time to test termination after the tap was 36.2 ± 7.4 sec. Mean VO_2max during session 2 was 47.5 ± 7.7 ml⋅kg^-1⋅min^-1, and time to test termination after the tap was 40.0 ± 18.5 sec. No significant correlation was detected between VO_2max and time to test termination after the tap in session 1 (r = -.032, p = .917) or session 2 (r = .315, p = .295). A dependent t-test did not reveal significant differences in time to test termination after the tap between session 1 and session 2 (p = .439). CONCLUSION: Aerobic capacity did not affect the ability of healthy, recreationally active young adults to predict impending volitional exhaustion during maximal treadmill running. Time to test termination after the tap did not significantly change during a repeated trial.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This investigation was part of a study funded by the Graduate Student Research Fund from the University of Central Missouri.

Recommended Citation

Davis, DW; Carducci, JL; Garver, MJ; Stone, WJ; Penumetcha, M; Philipp, NM; Hair, JN; Elledge, JR; Williams, HR; Oliphant, MT; and Hopkins, ZS (2018) "ABILITY TO PREDICT IMPENDING VOLITIONAL EXHAUSTION BASED ON AEROBIC CAPACITY," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 11: Iss. 6, Article 21.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol11/iss6/21