AUTOMATED-SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING METABOLIC AND RESPIRATORY-FUNCTION DURING EXERCISE

A new, totally automated system for assessing metabolic and respiratory function during exercise was briefly described. This system was evaluated simultaneously against 2 established systems, a computer-based system and a semiautomated system, to determine its validity over a wide range of metabolic levels, i.e., < 2 to > 16 mets. A total of 112 males and females, 12-65 yr of age, performed either arm or leg exercises on a bicycle ergometer or treadmill, starting at .apprx. 2 mets and progressing by approximately 1 met/min to the point of volitional fatigue. Respiratory and metabolic assessments were made each minute during the entire exercise bout. Comparisons across the 3 systems demonstrated remarkable agreement, particularly when all potential sources of error for each system are considered. Although several statistically significant differences between 2 of the systems were noted at the lowest work levels, the difference in .ovrhdot.VO2 [aerobic capacity] between any 2 systems never exceeded 1.1 ml/kg .cntdot. min.