Suitability of Verification Testing to Confirm Attainment of VO2max in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

The aim of the present study was to test the utility of the verification testing procedure in confirming "true" VO(2)max in older adults completing maximal cycle ergometry. Eighteen physically active men and women (age = 59.7 +/- 6.3 yr, ht = 173.0 +/- 8.8 cm, body mass = 83.2 +/- 16.4 kg, VO(2)max = 27.7 +/- 5.0 mL/kg/min) completed incremental exercise, and returned 1 h after incremental exercise to complete a verification phase of constant load exercise at 105% peak work rate. During exercise, gas exchange data and heart rate (HR) were continuously monitored. VO(2)max was similar (p > 0.05) between incremental and verification bouts (2329 +/- 762 mL/min vs. 2309 +/- 760 mL/min). Findings support use of the verification procedure to confirm VO(2)max attainment in active, middle-aged and older adults completing incremental cycle ergometry. This is particularly relevant to interpretation of studies that have used repeated measurements of VO(2)max to establish a training effect or when VO(2)max is used for designing exercise prescriptions.