Astrand Bicycle Ergnometer Test

AIM

• To perform a VO2 sub-maximal test

PRE-TEST PROTOCOL

• Ensure client has not eaten a meal, smoked or taken any caffeine drinks within last hour (Note: Test should be deferred if client has consumed any of the above until appropriate time has elapsed possible.)
• Ensure client is well today
• Note resting heart and blood pressure
• Note height and weight (Note: Ensure shoes and objects have been removed.)

PROTOCOL

• Apply a heart rate monitor.
• Position client on seat and adjust height of seat to achieve approximately 5° knee flexion when pedal is at its lowest.
• Begin pedalling without load to achieve a speed of 50 to 60 rpm.
• Start testing by adding initial load.
• Monitor heart rate in last 15 seconds of each minute.
• If heart rate is below 130 bpm increase the load for the following minute. If heart rate is between 130 and 170 bpm do not increase the load for the following minutes. (Note: if their heart rate has climbed quite quickly and is nearing 120-130bpm do not increase the load as you may have issues achieving steady state; hold for the following minute and monitor the response)
• Continue test for six minutes.
• The last two heart rates must be within 5 bpm. If they are more than this continue the test for an additional minute.

STOP TESTING

• If heart rate exceeds 170 bpm and client is symptomatic.
• If client complains of discomfort whilst performing test

DOCUMENTATION

• Take average of last two heart rates.
• Use the average of the last two heart rates to determine the predicted VO2 max (table 1).
• Multiply initial VO2 max by age correlation factor (table 2)
• Multiply final estimated VO2 max (l/min) by 1000 then divide by weight. This will result in VO2 max (ml/kg/min).
• Compare to fitness as per aerobic capacity chart (table 3)

Table 1: Predicted VO2

Table 3 – VO₂ Max Normative Data