Validity of the Supramaximal Test to Verify Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Children and Adolescents.

Purpose : This study had 2 objectives: (1) to examine whether the validity of the supramaximal verification test for maximal oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 max ) differs in children and adolescents when stratified for sex, body mass, and cardiorespiratory fitness and (2) to assess sensitivity and specificity of primary and secondary objective criteria from the incremental test to verify V ˙ O 2 max . Methods : In total, 128 children and adolescents (76 male and 52 females; age: 9.3-17.4 y) performed a ramp-incremental test to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer followed by a supramaximal test to verify V ˙ O 2 max . Results : Supramaximal tests verified V ˙ O 2 max in 88% of participants. Group incremental test peak V ˙ O 2 was greater than the supramaximal test (2.27 [0.65] L·min ^-1 and 2.17 [0.63] L·min ^-1 ; P  < .001), although both were correlated ( r  = .94; P  < .001). No differences were found in V ˙ O 2 plateau attainment or supramaximal test verification between sex, body mass, or cardiorespiratory fitness groups (all P s > .18). Supramaximal test time to exhaustion predicted supramaximal test V ˙ O 2 max verification ( P  = .04). Primary and secondary objective criteria had insufficient sensitivity (7.1%-24.1%) and specificity (50%-100%) to verify V ˙ O 2 max . Conclusion : The utility of supramaximal testing to verify V ˙ O 2 max is not affected by sex, body mass, or cardiorespiratory fitness status. Supramaximal testing should replace secondary objective criteria to verify V ˙ O 2 max .