YMCA Sub Max Cycle Ergometer Test

Advantages

• Cycle ergometer is portable and less expensive
• Upper body movement is minimal
  • easier to measure exercise heart rate and blood pressure
• More applicable for measuring cycling performance

Disadvantages

• Many people may not be accustomed to cycling
  • muscular fatigue may occur prematurely
  • fail to reach true maximum cardio output on max cycle test
  • 10 - 15% underestimation of true VO2 max
• Blood pressure may be slightly greater compared to treadmill tests
  • due to longer muscular contractions
    • resulting in a relative intermittent vascular occlusions
• Accuracy is based on prediction of MHR
  • MHR has a wide range of values at any age (figure 4.13)
  • When using the formula (220-age) in estimating maximum heart rate:
    • SEE ± 12 bpm for younger individuals
    • SEE ± 15 bpm for older individuals
• Equipment must be well maintained & calibrated
• Running tests are more applicable for measuring running performance

Sample Format for Submax Test

• Interview Subject
  • Ask subject:
    • if they have been tested before
    • medications and drugs: medications that affect heart rate will render test invalid
    • musculoskeletal limitations and recent injuries
    • present physical condition (cold, infections)
    • time of last meal or snack
  • Explain purpose of test:
    • predicts cardiorespiratory fitness
    • customize design of exercise prescriptions
    • evaluate the effectiveness of exercise program
    • monitors heart rate and blood pressure responses
  • Explain procedures of test:
    • Explain test only takes client just beyond 75% of predicted maximum heart rate
    • Stop the test if you feel faint, dizzy, or short of breath
      • they are free to stop test for ANY reason
    • Subject's responsibility:
      • ride at 50 rpm
      • give tester a RPE when asked (1-10)
      • keep going until about 75-85% of heart rate max (70% of heart rate reserve)
    • Tester's responsibility:
      • monitor blood pressure and heart rate responses during each 3 minute stage
      • change the resistance on the bike in accordance to heart rate
    • Cool down after test
• Pretest
  • Write down 75% of max heart rate on test form
  • Take weight
  • Take height
  • Resting blood pressure
  • Resting heart rate
  • Adjust seat height and record for future tests
    • knee is almost straight (5°) in bottom stroke with ankle in neutral position
      • consider subject may sink into seat within the first few minutes
      • test results may be inaccurately low if seat is set too low
      • pedaling position should be comfortable for subject
  • Set metronome at 50 bpm
  • Subject practices pace during warm-up
• Test
  • Record blood pressure, heart rate, RPE, and workload for each stage
  • See Workload Guides
    • A: women or lower fit men
    • B: men or very fit women
  • Tension may slip on a mechanically braked cycle and may require attention between workloads
  • See samples below
• Post test
  • Cool down at work rate equivalent to first stage or lower
    • tester continues to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, signs, and symptoms
  • Plug numbers in computer or graph heart rates and calculate predicted functional capacity
    • Stage A is second to last stage
    • Stage B is last stage completed
    • Both heart rate measurements must be between 110 bpm and 85% of the age predicted heart rate
  • Place information in client file

YMCA Cycle Test Calculator

Using the YMCA Cycle Test Calculator and Sample I above as an example:

• Stage 2 would be used as Stage A
• Stage 3 would be used as Stage B

Enter each stages respective workload and heart rate at end of each stage