Purpose: To examine the reproducibility and validity of a new submaximal, ramped cycle ergometer testing methodology known as the Aerobic Adaptation Test (AAT), which attempts to detect changes in submaximal work capacity and minimize participant discomfort.
Methods: 36 sedentary men (mean age = 48.1 +/- 10.2 yr [SD]) and 22 sedentary women (mean age = 51.9 +/- 10.2 yr [SD]) participated in the study. To test reproducibility, participants were tested twice with an average of 20 d between tests (+/-15 d). To test validity, participants were tested before and after a 6-month physical activity intervention, and outcomes were compared with standard measures of fitness (exercise time and oxygen consumption at 70% max heart rate). The main outcome variable of the AAT was work output (W) over a period of 3 min after reaching 70% maximal heart rate.
Results: The average work output at 70% HRmax was highly reproducible, with a test-retest reliability of rho = 0.85 (P < 0.001). Average work output at 70% HRmax significantly increased after 6 months of physical activity intervention (87.8 +/- 32.9 W vs 95.5 +/- 37.9 W, P = 0.002), and changes in average work output at 70% HRmax correlated with changes in exercise time to elicit 70% HRmax (r = 0.87, P < 0.001) as well as changes in VO2 at 70% HRmax (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). Thus, the AAT appears to be a valid measure of submaximal work capacity.
Conclusions: The AAT is a reproducible and valid measure of submaximal work capacity that can serve as an effective means to evaluate physical activity interventions.