A New Fitness Test of Estimating VO2max 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]