Exercise Treadmill Protocol & VO2_peak:   The differences in VO2peak as elicited by two different treadmill protocols.

Currently, the Bruce protocol is the most commonly used protocol to assess peak oxygen consumption (VO_2peak).  However, it has been suggested that this protocol may not be the most appropriate for all groups and that the protocol used in assessing VO_2peak should approximate the mode and intensity of the exercise to which the subject is accustomed.  PURPOSE: To determine if there is a difference in VO_2peak as elicited by the standard Bruce (B) and a modified Åstrand (A) treadmill protocol in trained female and male runners.  METHODS: A total of 30 subjects: Fifteen female runners (19.27 miles/wk/female subject) will participate in the study and the subjects’ mean age, height, weight, and percent body fat are 20.8yr, 171.5cm, 63.4kg, and 18.0%, respectively. Fifteen male runners (30.6 miles/wk/male subject) will also participate in the study and the subjects’ mean age, height, weight, and percent body fat are 25.5yr, 176.8cm, 71.5kg, and 9.3%, respectively.  Subjects will come into the laboratory on three occasions each separated by approximately 7 days.  On Day 1, subjects will perform a familiarization treadmill test.  On Days 2 and 3 subjects will perform a VO_2peak test using either a running protocol or the Bruce protocol in a randomized, crossover design. Additionally, body composition testing for each subject will take place within 2 weeks from Day 1. Indirect spirometry will be used to measure inspired and expired gasses, which will analyzed on a metabolic cart.  A 2 × 2 repeated measure ANOVA (a=0.05) will be used to determine if differences existed in VO_2peak, peak heart rate (HR), respiratory exchange ratio (R), and minute ventilation (VE) between the test protocols.