Lab A3-3 The Åstrand-Rhyming Cycle Ergometer Test for Assessing

03 Fahey6/e
6/11/04
10:53 AM
Page 37
Name _________________________ Section _______________ Date ______________________________
Lab A3-3
The Åstrand-Rhyming Cycle Ergometer Test for Assessing
Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Equipment
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cycle ergometer that allows for regulation of power output in kilopounds per meter (kpm)
A stopwatch, clock, or watch with a second hand
Weight scale
Metronome or meter on cycle ergometer to measure pedal revolutions
Partner to monitor heart rate
Preparation
Weigh yourself before taking the test. Adjust the seat height of the cycle so that your knees are almost completely
extended as your foot goes through the bottom of the pedaling cycle. Practice pedaling the cycle ergometer at
the speed of 50 pedal revolutions per minute. Each revolution includes a downstroke with each foot, so set your
metronome at 100 beats per minute.
Body weight:
lb
Instructions
1. Warm up before taking the test. Do some walking, easy jogging, and stretching exercises. A few minutes
practice on the cycle ergometer can also be part of your warm-up.
2. Set up the metronome to monitor your pace. If you aren’t using a metronome, have a partner call out times
at regular intervals.
3. Set the power output between 300 and 1200 kpm. If you are
small or have been sedentary, a setting of 300–600 kpm is
appropriate. If you are larger or fitter, try a setting of 600–900
kpm. Find a setting high enough to raise your heart rate to
between 125 and 170 bpm, but not so high that you can’t
continue pedaling for 6 minutes.
Note: If your heart rate goes above 170 or you experience any
unusual symptoms, stop pedaling, rest for 15–20 minutes, and
then repeat the test at a lower workload.
4. Ride the cycle ergometer for 6 minutes at a rate of 50 pedal
revolutions per minute. Your partner should monitor your heart
rate by counting your pulse for the last 10 seconds of each
minute of your ride (see the photograph). Your heart rate should
rise to a level in the target range (125–170 bpm) and then level
off, staying relatively constant during the last few minutes of
your ride. If your exercise heart rate stays below 125 bpm, rest
for 15–20 minutes, and then repeat the test at a higher
workload. If your heart rate gets too high or if it continues to
rise throughout your ride (not leveling off in the last few
During the cycle ergometer test, a partner
minutes), rest for 15–20 minutes, and repeat the test at a lower
monitors heart rate for the last 10 seconds of
workload.
every minute.
(over)
Fahey/Insel/Roth, Fit and Well, Sixth Edition. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies.
03 Fahey6/e
6/11/04
10:53 AM
Page 38
LAB A3-3 (continued)
5. If your heart rate levels off within the target range (125–170 bpm), your partner should make a final count
during the last 10 seconds of the sixth minute of your ride.
10-second pulse count:
beats
Power output:
kpm
6. Cool down after the test by pedaling, walking, or jogging slowly for several minutes.
Determining Maximal Oxygen Consumption
1. Calculate your exercise heart rate by multiplying your final 10-second
count by 6.
Exercise heart rate:
6
bpm
10-sec pulse count
2. On the nomogram below, connect the point that represents your exercise heart rate with the point that
represents the power output you used (on the scale for your sex). Read your total oxygen uptake score (in
liters) at the point where the line you’ve drawn crosses the maximal oxygen consumption line.
Maximal oxygen consumption (from nomogram):
l/min
3. Adjust your maximal oxygen consumption score for your age by multiplying it by the appropriate agecorrection factor in the table below.
Age
15
20
Factor
1.10
1.05
VO2max corrected for age:
25
1.0
VO2max
30
0.94
35
0.87
l/min 40
0.83
age-correction factor
45
0.78
50
0.75
55
0.71
65
0.65
l/min
4. Convert your score to one for maximal
oxygen consumption (in milliliters of
oxygen per minute per kilogram of body
weight).
a. Convert your weight from pounds to
kilograms by dividing it by 2.2.
b. Multiply your VO2max by 1000 (to
convert from liters to milliliters).
c. Divide this number by your weight
(in kilograms).
60
0.68
Power output
kpm/min
Males
Heart rate
Males
170
166
162
158
154
150
146
142
138
134
130
126
122
.
VO2max
300
Females
300
Females
1.6
1.8
172
2.0
168
2.2
164
2.4
160
2.6
2.8
156
3.0
152
3.2
3.4
148
3.6
3.8
144
4.0
4.2
140
4.4
136 4.6 4.8
5.0
132 5.4 5.2
5.6
128 5.8 6.0
124
120
450
450
600
600
750
900
750
900
1050
1200
The example
(dashed line) shows
.
the VO2max found (2.2 liters O2/min)
for a 25-year-old female who had an
exercise heart rate of 162 bpm after
pedaling for 6 minutes at a power
output of 600 kpm.
Nomogram for use with the Åstrand-Rhyming cycle ergometer test.
1500
(over)
03 Fahey6/e
6/11/04
10:53 AM
Page 39
LAB A3-3 (continued)
For example, a 135-pound, 25-year-old female whose 10-second count was 27 at a workload
of 600 kpm would calculate maximal oxygen consumption as follows:
1. 27 beats 6 162 bpm
2. Connecting 600 kpm and 162 bpm on the nomogram gives a VO2max value of 2.2 l/min
3. The age-adjustment factor for a 25-year-old is 1.00.
2.2 l/min 1.00 2.2 l/min
4. To convert 135 pounds to kilograms:
135 lb 2.2 lb/kg 61.4 kg
To convert liters to milliliters:
2.2 l/min 1000 ml/l 2200 ml/min
To adjust for weight:
2200 ml/min 61.4 kg 35.8 ml/kg/min
lb 2.2 lb/kg Convert body weight to kg:
Convert from liters to milliliters:
Adjust for weight:
VO
2max
VO2max
ml/min age-corrected VO2max
body weight
kg
l/min 1000 ml/l kg ml/min
ml/kg/min
Rating Your Results
Record your VO
score(s) and the corresponding fitness rating from the table below.
VO2max:
2max
Rating:
Women
Very Poor
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Superior
Age: 18–29
30–39
40–49
50–59
60–69
Below 31.6
Below 29.9
Below 28.0
Below 25.5
Below 23.7
31.6–35.4
29.9–33.7
28.0–31.5
25.5–28.6
23.7–26.5
35.5–39.4
33.8–36.7
31.6–35.0
28.7–31.3
26.6–29.0
39.5–43.9
36.8–40.9
35.1–38.8
31.4–35.1
29.1–32.2
44.0–50.1
41.0–46.8
38.9–45.1
35.2–39.8
32.3–36.8
Above 50.1
Above 46.8
Above 45.1
Above 39.8
Above 36.8
Below 38.1
Below 36.7
Below 34.6
Below 31.1
Below 27.4
38.1–42.1
36.7–40.9
34.6–38.3
31.1–35.1
27.4–31.3
42.2–45.6
41.0–44.3
38.4–42.3
35.2–38.2
31.4–34.9
45.7–51.0
44.4–48.8
42.4–46.7
38.3–43.2
35.0–39.4
51.1–56.1
48.9–54.2
46.8–52.8
43.3–49.6
39.5–46.0
Above 56.1
Above 54.2
Above 52.8
Above 49.6
Above 46.0
Men
Age: 18–29
30–39
40–49
50–59
60–69
Sources: Ratings based on norms from the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research, Dallas,Texas, The Physical Fitness Specialist Manual, Revised 2002. Used
with permission. Åstrand, P.O., and I. Rhyming. 1954. A nomogram for calculation of aerobic capacity (physical fitness) from pulse rate during submaximal
work. Journal of Applied Physiology 7:218–221.