Validity of the Modified Conconi Running Test

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the validity of a fast ramp treadmill protocol for determination of the heart rate deflection point (HR_dp) and speed of deflection (S_dp) in trained runners. Fifty-one trained male runners performed a standard (T_stand; speed increase 1 km · h^-1 every 60 s) and a fast (T_fast; speed increase 1 km · h^-1 every 30 s) incremental treadmill test until volitional exhaustion. Heart rate was continuously recorded, and the HR_dp was estimated after data averaging as the point of deflection in the linear speed/HR relationship. The HR_dp and S_dp recorded in T_fast were compared with the corresponding values obtained in T_stand by examining the Student's t-test, correlation coefficient (r), and limits of agreement (LoA). The HR_dp recorded during standard and fast treadmill protocol were highly correlated (r = 0.92, p < 0.001) and similar to each other (p = 0.79). In contrast, S_dp was highly correlated (r = 0.91, p < 0.001), but increased significantly with the faster ramp function (p < 0.001). No evidence of systematic bias was evident in the HR_dp (95 % LoA of 0.2 ± 7.3 bpm), while a uniform, systematic bias was evident for S_dp in the T_fast (95 % LoA of 1.6 ± 1.5 km · h^-1). We conclude that a fast ramp treadmill protocol (speed increase 1 km · h^-1 every 30 s) may be used for determination of the HR_dp in trained runners, while S_dp is protocol dependent and caution is warranted regarding its practical applicability.

Key words

heart rate - anaerobic threshold - Conconi test - ramp test - validity

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