Validity and reliability of maximum oxygen uptake on an Air Bike arm- and leg-ergometer

Abstract

Air Bike ergometers have recently appeared and become popular among fitness. These ergometers combine the use of upper or lower limbs while remaining seated. Its characteristic is that of a system of external load imposed through air resistance which increases with the cadence imposed on the equipment. The present study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the ramp test and standard leg-cycle ergometer to assess maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max). For this purpose, 18 physically active young men, aged between 19 and 29 years (mean ± standard deviation= 21.78± 2.44), performed three maximal incremental ramp tests in random order: one test on a cycle ergometer and two tests on an Air Bike arm- and leg- ergometer (test and re-test) with cardiorespiratory measurements throughout the tests. VO₂max and maximum heart rate (HRmax) were significantly higher in the Air Bike compared with the cycle ergometer (53.06± 8.72 vs 47.38± 9.15 mL/min/kg), 181.93± 10.20 vs 176.07± 5.28 bpm, p< 0.001; 95%CI 3.41–7.95; ES= 0.30 and p= 0.01; 95%CI 1.44–10.29; ES= 0.34, respectively for VO₂max and HRmax). There were no differences between the two ergometers in the maximum respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and test duration (1.21± 0.13 vs 1.21± 0.13, 598.06± 37.28 vs 612.22± 86.40 s, p= 0.9; IC95% –0.05 – –0.05; ES= 0 and p= 0.4; 95%CI –46.12–17.79; ES= –0.11, respectively for RER and test duration). Both VO₂max and HRmax showed to be reliable when assessed with the Air Bike ergometer. The maximal test carried out on the Air Bike is a reliable ergometer to assess VO₂max and probably enables a higher VO₂max as compared with a standard leg-cycle ergometer.