Validation of the Ymca's guide to setting workloads for the submaximal cycle ergometer test
Abstract
The YMCA cycle ergometer test is a nationally used submaximal test that measures heart rate response to an increasing exercise workload. Two exercise heart rates are used to estimate maximal physical working capacity. A workload guide was established to make testing more efficient. The principle underlying the workload guide was that the examiner would assess the heart rate response to the first low intensity workload and from there would set workloads according to the guide. Problems have occurred with the guide, specifically with the highest intensity workload column. The purpose of this study was to validate the YMCA's guide to setting workloads for the submaximal cycle ergometer test. It was found that 20 of the 98 subjects would have needed to be re-tested because the workload guide would have elicited heart rates of greater than 150 bpm. The third and fourth workload columns produced a significant number of invalid tests.