A New Fitness Test of Estimating VO(2max) in Well-Trained Rowing Athletes

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the validity of maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) estimation through the Firstbeat fitness test (FFT) method when using submaximal rowing and running programs for well-trained athletes. METHODS: Well-trained flatwater rowers (n = 45, 19.8 ± 3.0 years, 184 ± 8.7 cm, 76 ± 12.9 kg, and 58.7 ± 6.0 mL⋅kg(–1)⋅min(–1)) and paddlers (n = 45, 19.0 ± 2.5 years, 180 ± 7.7 cm, 74 ± 9.4 kg, and 59.9 ± 4.8 mL⋅kg(–1)⋅min(–1)) completed the FFT and maximal graded exercise test (GXT) programs of rowing and running, respectively. The estimated VO(2max) was calculated using the FFT system, and the measured VO(2max) was obtained from the GXT programs. Differences between the estimated and measured VO(2max) values were analyzed to assess the accuracy and agreement of the predictions. Equations from the previous study were also used to predict the VO(2max) in the submaximal programs to compare the accuracy of prediction with the FFT method. RESULTS: The FFT method was in good agreement with the measured VO(2max) in both groups based on the intraclass correlation coefficients (>0.8). Additionally, the FFT method had considerable accuracy in VO(2max) estimation as the mean absolute percentage error (≤5.0%) and mean absolute error (<3.0 mL⋅kg(–1)⋅min(–1)) were fairly low. Furthermore, the FFT method seemed more accurate in the estimation of VO(2max) than previously reported equations, especially in the rowing test program. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the FFT method provides a considerably accurate estimation of VO(2max) in well-trained athletes.