1. HES 403
Lab Report Cover Page
Honor Pledge:
I pledge on my honor that I have not received or given any unauthorized assistance in
this assignment.
Ashtin spies 4/29/15
Type Name Date
1. Rationale/Purpose: (5 pts) Subtotal
Required elements:
a. Provide a brief (~3-5 sentence) description of the rationale/purpose for this
lab, and the physiological system(s) tested.
Comments:
2. Methods: (5 pts) Subtotal
Required elements:
a. Briefly describe the methods used to collect the data you will present in the
results and discussion sections.
Comments:
3. Results: (5 pts) Subtotal
Required elements:
a. Each lab will have specific requirements for how to share results (tables,
figures calculations, etc.). Please refer to the lab material and include the
required elements along with a brief description of what data are included.
Comments:
4. Conclusions: (25 pts) Subtotal
Required elements:
a. Data obtained in the lab must be discussed in the context of materials from
the class/text, lab discussions, etc.
b. Discuss what the data mean, and norms or frames of reference for the values
you report in the lab (i.e., is the REE high, low, reasonable?). Provide the
basis for any normative assessment of the data.
c. Discuss the accompanying PDF in terms of:
a. The design and outcomes (conclusions) shared by the authors.

2. b. How the PDF informs your interpretation/discussion of data obtained in
the lab and/or how it expands upon material discussed in lecture.
c. Suggest a plausible follow-up study to the one presented in the PDF.
Comments:
Lab subtotal
Deductions for spelling/grammar/syntax, etc (maximum of 10 pts)
TOTAL SCORE (out of 40 pts):
Measuring VO2 Max with the Bruce Protocol on an Uphill Treadmill Test
Purpose:
A persons VO2 max is a good indicator of fitness and cardiovascular health. VO2 max
is a measure of the maximal amount of oxygen consumed, or utilized by the body during
aerobic exercise. As exercise intensity increases, so does an individuals oxygen
consumption. The highest amount of oxygen a person can consume is their VO2 max.
One of the best ways to measure VO2 max is through an uphill treadmill run. A higher
VO2 max would indicate better health and a larger capacity for aerobic activity. This

3. study will use VO2 max to assess a participants level of fitness with the uphill treadmill
and Bruce protocol.
Methods:
One participant was involved with this test. She was a 22 year old Colorado State
University female who was recreationally active. Her age, height, and weight was noted
before the testing. Then, she took a few heath questionnaires to make sure she was
healthy enough to proceed with testing. The questionnaires included medical history
and general health concerns. The questionnaire concluded that testing was safe. The
room testing took place in a room that was 19 degrees Celsius and had a barometric
pressure of 637 mmHg. The participant was hooked up to a heart rate monitor as to
avoid human error when finding these values. The participant was also hooked up to a
machine that uses indirect calorimetry for the VO2 max measure. Resting heart rate
and blood pressure was recorded before the participant began. She would go through
varying levels of intensity with the Bruce protocol. Bruce protocol has a possibility of 6
levels each lasting 3 minutes. At the 2nd minute in each stage, blood pressure and
heart rate were noted. At the end of the 3rd
minute, RPE (rate of perceived exertion)
was also noted from the participant. For more on the Bruce Protocol, please refer to the
HES 403 Bell lab manual. The test is to be terminated if that is a desire of the
participant, if visual struggle is noted, or if any levels become in a range that is unsafe
or at risk of becoming unsafe.
After the test, RER (respiratory exchange ratio) is determined using end VCO2/VO2.
VO2 max values were found using indirect calorimetry and the Bruce equation: VO2

4. max= 4.38 X time – 3.9. This equation is specific for woman. The relative VO2max
value was used in order to find fitness percentage according to ACSM guidelines.
Results:
Below are the participant characteristics for this study.
Column1 Column2 Column3 Column4
Age height weight Sex
22 years
162.56
cm
54.5454
kg Female
Below is a table of VO2 max values.
VO2 Max
measured
VO2 max
predicted
43.6 mL/kgxmin 49.97 mL/kgxmin
RER was calculated using the end VCO2/VO2. RER equaled 1.04.
Below is a table and graph of the VO2 measures and heart rate measures. This shows
a linear correlation between the two.

5. Heart
rate 140 147 179 189 184
VO2 0.84 1.28 1.78 2.36 2.38
Discussion:
VO2 max is an important component when evaluating a participants level of fitness. It
can also give indication on level of health of an individual. The VO2 max for this
participant was measured and predicted. When we predict the VO2 max, we use a
specific equation based on the thought that heart rate and oxygen consumption will be
linear at varying intensities. Measured values are obtained through indirect calorimetry,
obtaining the exact amount of oxygen consumed. The measured VO2 max for this test
was 43.6 mL/kg*min. According to the ACSM guidelines, this puts the participant in the
75th
-80th
percentile for woman in her age group. It also puts her in the category of
excellent health. We also measured her RER to refer to when asking the question, was
0
50
100
150
200
250
Column2 Column3 Column4 Column5 Column6
Heart Rate and VO2
Heart rate VO2

6. this her actual VO2max, or was it her VO2 peak? A VO2 peak is the maximal amount of
oxygen consumed in a given setting and time. VO2 max would be the measure at
optimal conditions. Although it was close, I believe the data to represent her VO2 peak.
The measure is slightly lower than her estimated VO2 max, and her RER indicates
intense exercise, but not a max exercise. RER is a normal range at .7-1.0. It can
exceed 1.0 during intense exercise. Our participant exceeded the normal RER range
by only .04. Generally, an RER of 1.1 or higher indicates VO2 max. Our participant
was right on the cusp of VO2 max, however, she probably did not make it.
Unfortunately, we used indirect calorimetry and not direct. Indirect is not the gold
standard and may result in different estimations. A Maximal Cycle Test With Good
Validity and High Reproducibility in Adults of all Ages a study by the University of
Southern Denmark, found differences in VO2 Max between direct and indirect methods.
It said that the indirect method underestimated VO2 Max for males and overestimated
for woman. This could be a limitation to our study. Another study titled, Validity of
Arm/leg Elliptical Ergometer for VO2 Max Analysis, found no differences between
VO2max from a maximal test compared to a sub-maximal test. So, perhaps the limiting
factor is not the test, but rather the measuring method. If we were able to do the test
once again and use a direct method, this could help to prove that theory. We want to
know these numbers in order to help prescribe exercise, mainly in athletes or healthy
individuals. Higher VO2 Max values are more beneficial for certain sports than others.
So, it may be tracked for improvement. It helps to indicate the level of fitness so that the
prescription is not too hard and not to easy as well. Also, we can use this in a more

7. clinical setting to measure health. For a healthy individual, the Bruce protocol on the
uphill Treadmill is a good indicator of fitness in regards to VO2 Max.
References:
Brown, Andrew. Kueffner, Tannin. O’Mahony, Erin. Lockhard, Michael. Validity of
Arm/leg Elliptical Ergometer for VO2 Max Analysis. Williamette University, Department
of Exercise Science.
Eriksen, Tolstrip, Larsen, Gonbeak, Helge. A Maximal Cycle Test With Good Validity
and High Reproducibility in Adults of all Age. National Institute of Public Health.
University of Southern Denmark. 2014.