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Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(3): 157-162
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1104569
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

On the Determination of Ventilatory Threshold and Respiratory Compensation Point via Respiratory Frequency

D. T. Cannon 1 , F. W. Kolkhorst 1 , M. J. Buono 1 , 2
  • 1School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
  • 2Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision August 4, 2008

Publication Date:
07 January 2009 (online)

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Abstract

This study examined the validity of a quantitative respiratory frequency (f R) analysis to detect the ventilatory threshold (ΘVent) and respiratory compensation point (RCP). Thirty-six amateur competitive cyclists completed a maximal graded exercise test on an electromagnetically-braked cycle ergometer. ΘVent and RCP were determined using multiple gas exchange criteria and by f R analysis (ΘVent f R and RCPf R), employing an iterative least-squares linear regression technique. Fifteen subjects were excluded from the analyses due to a low signal-to-noise ratio and/or high risk for pseudo-threshold resulting from hyperventilation early in the exercise protocol. A Bland-Altman procedure for inter-analysis comparison completed on the remaining participants’ data (n=21; age=29±7 years; height=177±9 cm; weight=76.0±15.8 kg; V˙O2max=4.415±0.971 l min−1; 58.7±10.7 ml kg−1 min−1) revealed mean bias±95% Limits of Agreement (LOA) of 1.53±50.2 W for ΘVent and ΘVent f R. The same inter-anlysis comparison (n=21) for RCP and RCPf R resulted in a mean bias±LOA of 12.6±26.9 W. The analysis techniques in the present investigation revealed substantial limits of agreement and/or bias for all estimations, and these data indicated f R analyses were unsatisfactory to determine ΘVent and RCP in trained cyclists.

Key words

ventilation frequency - respiratory rate - lactate threshold

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Correspondence

D. T. Cannon

Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology

Faculty of Biological Sciences

9.52 Worsley Building

University of Leeds

LS2 9JT

United Kingdom

Phone: +44(0)/113/343 16 69

Email: d.t.cannon08@leeds.ac.uk

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