HERS 380 Laboratory Methods
in Exercise Science
Åstrand Bike Test
Work in groups of 3-4. Collect data on all
people in your group, including yourself. Use the auscultation
method for measuring heart rate of your subjects. Since you are
working on mastering this skill, it is possible that measurement
errors may occur. You may use the HR monitors as a back-up
method to check your accuracy and ensure the safety of your
subjects. In order enhance your skill level with this method,
each subject should be tested twice, once on
Tuesday and once on Thursday. Select one
set of data (the set collected on Tuesday or Thursday) for each subject for presentation in the laboratory
report. You will need one data sheet for each person in
your group.
In order to perform the necessary calculations
and answer the discussion questions you will need the following
for each subject: age, weight in kg, training status(be specific
in the type and degree of training), times for 30 beats to occur,
heart rate values(use the ausculatation measured values if they
are fairly close to the back-up method values), power levels
(including any changes made and the time they were changed).
Determine the following (Present in table
format in the results section):
- Predicted VO2max based on heart
rate and cycling power in liters/minute (L/min or
L•min-1) for each subject. (Use Tables 14.5) If your
subject is not 25 years of age, use the proper correction
factor in Table 14.6 for an age-adjusted VO2max estimate.
- Predicted VO2max in
milliliters/kilogram/minute (ml/kg/min or
ml•kg-1•min-1) for each subject. Convert the L/min value to
ml/kg/min by multiplying it by 1000 and dividing by
bodyweight.
- Aerobic fitness classification for each subject. (Use
Table14.7 )
Discussion questions:
- Were the predicted VO2max values
expressed in L/min as expected for the subjects? Why were
they as expected or why were they not as expected? Since
you will not be able to compare this to norm charts,
compare members of the group to each other (rank them) and consider
the training status of each person.
- Were the predicted VO2max
values expressed in ml/kg/min as expected for the subjects? Why
were they as expected or why were they not as expected?
Focus on the estimated values, not the aerobic fitness
classification. You may find it helpful to compare
members of the group to each other (rank them) and consider the
training status of each person. Did the rankings change when bodyweight was considered in the calulation? Explain why this would influence the results.
- Were the aerobic fitness classifications
as expected? Explain why or why not. How does this
compare to the training that has been performed by each
person?
- It has been reported that when using this
test VO2max is overestimated with trained
individuals and underestimated with untrained
individuals, why might this be?
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