A comparison of the reproducibility and physiologic response to three maximal treadmill exercise protocols.

Fifteen volunteers performed the Brace, Balke, and Taylor maximal treadmill exercise protocols. Each protocol was performed by each subject three times, one test a week for nine weeks. Maximal and submaximal oxygen consumption and heart rate were determined. Statistical analyses revealed: (1) a greater mean maximal oxygen consumption with the Taylor protocol; (2) no difference in reproducibility of the measurement of maximal oxygen consumption among the three protocols; (3) an increase in mean maximal treadmill time without an increase in mean maximal oxygen consumption with treadmill experience; and (4) a decrease in submaximal oxygen consumption and heart rate at similar workloads with treadmill experience. A wide range of maximal oxygen consumption was found for any particular maximal treadmill time. Because of these findings, the clinical use of treadmill time to determine maximal oxygen consumption or functional aerobic impairment or changes in these parameters should be critically reinvestigated.

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