Predicting Peak Oxygen Consumption With The Acsm Metabolic Equation For Running In Young Soccer Players

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the validity and reliability of using the ACSM metabolic treadmill running equation to estimate VO2peak during a graded exercise test in young competitive soccer players. Methods: Ten male soccer players (age = 17 ± 0.94. height = 177.7 ± 5.8 cm, weight = 69.3 ± 9.4 kg) participated in this study. On two different days that were separated by exactly one week, the subjects completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) on a treadmill. The GXT consisted of 3-minute stages. The initial stage consisted of running at a speed of 6 km.hr-1, with each stage progressing by 1 km.hr-1 until the 7th stage (i.e., 11 km.hr-1). Thereafter, each stage progressed by increases in grade of 2%. The test ended when the subjects reached volitional fatigue. A metabolic cart was used to collect expired gas fractions of oxygen. The peak oxygen consumption value at exercise cessation was recorded as observed VO2peak. The speed and grade of the treadmill at that time point was also recorded and used as prediction variables for the treadmill running metabolic equation which was as follows: Predicted VO2peak (ml.kg-1.min-1) = 3.5 + (speed [m.min-1] x 0.2) + (speed [m.min-1] x grade [expressed as a fraction] x 0.9). Results: The observed VO2peak values on Days 1 and 2 were 52.3 ± 9.6 ml.kg-1.min-1 and 55.2 ± 5.7 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively, which were not significantly different (p = 0.22) and displayed an ICC of 0.70 (p = 0.03). The predicted VO2peak values on Days 1 and 2 were 50.1 ± 5.9 ml.kg-1.min-1 and 52.7 ± 3.1 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively, which were not significantly different (p = 0.07) and displayed an ICC of 0.75 (p = 0.012). When compared to observed VO2peak on Day 1, predicted VO2peak was not significantly different (p = 0.16) and displayed a significant correlation (r = 0.93, p < 0.001) with a standard error of estimate (SEE) was ±3.7 ml.kg-1.min-1. When comparing the predicted to observed VO2peak values from Day 2, the mean difference was a statistically significant (p = 0.04). However, the correlation was significant (r = 0.87, p < 0.001) and the SEE was ±2.9 ml.kg-1.min-1. Conclusion: The results of the investigation suggest that the ACSM metabolic equation for running provides an accurate and reliable method for predicting VO2peak in young competitive male soccer players.