Resumen de Validation of the Cosmed Fitmate for Prediction of Maximal Oxygen Consumption
Jung-Min Lee, David R. Bassett, Dixie L. Thompson, Eugene C. Fitzhugh
The main purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the Cosmed Fitmate (FM) for the prediction of maximal oxygen consumption ([latin capital V with dot above]o2max). In addition, this study examined whether measuring submaximal [latin capital V with dot above]o2, rather than predicting it, can improve upon the prediction of [latin capital V with dot above]o2max. Participants for the study were 48 young to middle-age adults (32 men, 16 women), with a mean age of 31 yr. Each participant completed a submaximal and maximal treadmill test on 2 separate occasions. During the submaximal test, [latin capital V with dot above]o2max was predicted using the FM. This device extrapolates the linear regression relating heart rate (HR) and measured [latin capital V with dot above]o2 at submaximal work rates to age-predicted maximum HR (HR = 220 - age). The criterion measure was obtained using a graded, maximal treadmill test, with [latin capital V with dot above]o2 measured by the Douglas bag (DB) method. There was no significant difference between [latin capital V with dot above]o2max predicted by the FM and [latin capital V with dot above]o2max measured by the DB method. The results of this study showed that a strong positive correlation (r = 0.897) existed between [latin capital V with dot above]o2max predicted by the FM and [latin capital V with dot above]o2max measured by the DB method, with a standard error of the estimate (SEE) = 3.97 ml·kg-1·min-1. There was a significant difference in [latin capital V with dot above]o2max predicted by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) metabolic equations and [latin capital V with dot above]o2max measured by the DB method (p = 0.01). The correlation between these variables was r = 0.758 (SEE = 5.26 ml·kg-1·min-1). These findings indicate that a small, portable, and easy-to-use metabolic system provides valid estimates of [latin capital V with dot above]o2max, and improves upon predictive accuracy, compared to using generalized ACSM metabolic equations.
