Ventilatory response during an incremental exercise test: A mode of testing effect

Abstract

This study compared ventilation patterns during incremental load tests to exhaustion. Ten endurance trained individuals and eight recreationally active trained individuals underwent a maximal oxygen uptake ( O_2max) determination test on both a cycle (CE) and treadmill (TM) ergometer. Cardiorespiratory variables O₂, CO₂, RER, _E, and _R), movement frequency (MF) and entrainment (ENT) were collected and calculated relative to fixed percentages of O_2max (isometabolic), ranging from 60 to 100%. Minute ventilation ( _E) was similar between groups on both ergometers. Concurrently, V_T was significantly higher, while _R was significantly lower on the CE compared to the TM in both groups (PR or ENT between groups or mode of testing while the endurance trained group reached higher V_T values on the CE. Although the endurance trained group reached higher cardiorespiratory values compared to the recreationally active trained group, their ventilatory patterns were similar between modes of testing. These results seem to be dependent on the exercise modality and not necessarily the type of training individuals regularly participate in.