Validation of the 6-minute race test as a predictor of maximal aerobic speed in university endurance athletes

1. Introduction

Several factors influence the sports performance of athletes who train for endurance, including the environmental situation, training, and their biomechanical, psychological, and physiological state [1]. Valid tests are necessary to evaluate physical performance, associated with capacity and progress during the cycles of training [2].

Responding to this need, during the last years, several tests have been designed and validated to measure determinant physiological parameters for the endurance running performance [3]; the main parameters are the lactate threshold (LT), the running economy (RE) and the maximum oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) [4].

VO 2 max, directly assessed, is considered the gold standard to physical performance when associated with endurance race [5]. This parameter indicates the functional capacity and aerobic power of individuals [2]. VO 2 max integrates the responses of the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and muscular systems; an optimum integration of systems will evidence an optimum capture, transport, and use of oxygen (O 2 ) [6]. The achievement of VO 2 max is evidenced from a plateau [6] in the kinetics of this variable, which is considered the maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and corresponds to the minimum speed at which the VO 2 max is reached [7]. The MAS seems to be a superior predictor of VO 2 max since it is a variable that allows prescribing, more accurately, training plans inside the aerobic-anaerobic transition zones [8]. Also, the maintenance of MAS to the point of exhaustion, defined as the time limit (Tlim) [7], is a fundamental element in the prescription and the planning of training [9].

As mentioned before, the direct measure of VO 2 max and MAS, through an incremental exercise test, is considered the gold standard indicator to quantify cardiorespiratory fitness [6]. However, this assessment has disadvantages since it is almost impossible to exactly reproduce the original environment of sports training [10]. A second disadvantage is these tests require special resources [8] such as time, equipment, and evaluators who must be specially trained in the gas analysis [11].

These disadvantages have led to the design and validation of field test protocols that indirectly measure and evaluate VO 2 max and MAS, compromising fewer amounts of resources [8, 12]. These measures should estimate the physiological parameters that are determinant for endurance runners [2], which are fundamental for prescription training plans inside the aerobic-anaerobic transition zones [8]. In this context, some field tests reliably estimate the VO 2 max and the MAS [12, 13, 14, 15]. The University of Montreal Track Test stands out in the academic literature; it allows us to estimate VO 2 max by using an incremental-continuous maximal protocol until fatigue [13]. The Course Navette test is one of the most commonly applied tests due to its ease of preparation; it also estimates VO 2 max and MAS using an incremental and maximum protocol of 20 meters that lasts until fatigue [14, 15]. However, and due to the specifications of the races in athletic tracks, it is essential to use a linear protocol in the evaluation for endurance athletes to reach VO 2 max and MAS [15]. Considering the previous idea and the good correlation between VO 2 max and the cardiovascular fitness of individuals [16], the 12-minute test (12-min-T) has been used by coaches for the indirect estimation of VO 2 max [11]. Unfortunately, the 12-min-T lacks reliability in athletes [16], demonstrating an underestimation of the direct values obtained through ergo spirometry in endurance runners [17]. Likewise, the 6MRT has been used in very specific samples which does not allow to generalize results concerning the whole athletic population [12].

Considering the background information that suggests the use of a 6-minute race test (6MRT) to estimate the VO 2 max in subjects with oxygen consumption equivalent to 58.3 ± 2.9 mL0 ⋅ 2 Kg ⋅ - 1 min - 1 [12], and whose MAS may be obtained through direct tests [10, 18] or tests on the field [11, 15], the main objective of this study was to validate a 6-minute race test (6MRT) as a predictor of MAS in university endurance athletes, through the Tlim test. The second objective was to compare the performance between males and females in laboratory tests, as well as in tests on the field.

2. Methods

3. Results

Only the Ventilatory Threshold (VT) and the time obtained in the Tlim test on the field evidenced significant inter-gender differences ( 0.05). The VT was 2.50 ± 0.16 and 1.81 ± 0.28 L for men and women, respectively. Also, the time taken in the Tlim test was 356.4 ± 52.9 and 327.0 ± 120.2 s, respectively. The results of the evaluations of VO 2 max in the laboratory (Treadmill) and the Tlim test in the field are both reported in Table 2.

Upon comparison of the mean values and the differences of the VO 2 max in the laboratory (Treadmill) and the VO 2 max in the field (Tlim test), a Bland-Altman analysis, showed a common bias of 4.65 ± 5.06 mLO ⋅ 2 Kg ⋅ - 1 min - 1 (95% limits of agreement from - 5.25 to 14.56; 0.001) for 22 cases (Fig. 2A). For men the bias was 5.32 ± 6.17 mLO ⋅ 2 Kg ⋅ - 1 min - 1 (95% limits of agreement from - 6.76 to 17.42; 0.05) (Fig. 2B) while for women it was 3.84 ± 3.43 mLO ⋅ 2 Kg ⋅ - 1 min - 1 (95% limits of agreement from - 2.88 to 10.57; 0.01) (Fig. 2C).

Concerning the main objective of the study, the derived values of Tlim validated the 6MRT as a predictor of MAS in university endurance athletes, congruent with the theoretical parameters of time described for MAS in previous studies (208–690 s) [18]. Recent investigations with similar samples reported higher means (404 s [24] and 422 s [9]), but these investigations were carried out under laboratory conditions (possibly involving lower or even no air resistance), potentially resulting in lower energy costs [25] and hence a longer time of execution [26]. On the other hand, Blondel et al. [27] applied a Tlim test in the field with physically active university students ( n = 10), ultimately reporting mean values of 357 s. Similarly, Boullosa and Tuimil [28] evaluated the performance of 16 medium- and long-distance runners through a Tlim test, reporting average performance of 342 ± 88.6 s. Thus, these investigations presented similar results to those reported in the present study [27, 28]; however, the contributions of this research were direct evaluations of ventilatory parameters in the field (400 m athletic track) and the specificity of the selected sample (endurance university athletes).

When comparing the results of the Tlim test between men and women, the superior performance was observed in the former ( 0.05). This inter-gender difference may have been associated with the higher VO 2 max values presented by men (63.3 ± 5.8 and 49.2 ± 5.0 mLO ⋅ 2 kg ⋅ - 1 min - 1 for men and women, respectively) [9]. Several studies have compared differences in Tlim testing by sex [29, 30, 31]. For instance, Marques de Azevedo et al. [29] demonstrated greater performance in healthy men on a Tlim test (308 ± 84.3 and 285 ± 51.1 s in men and women, respectively). Similarly, García et al. [30] reported higher values in men in the Tlim test (385.0 ± 99.3 and 351.0 ± 79.6 s in men and women, respectively). However, Billat et al. [31] reported lower values in men during an in-lab Tlim test (357 ± 118 and 421 ± 129 s in men and women, respectively). Without considering the report made by Billat et al. [31], the results of Tlim tests seem to depend on the sex and the type of sample. Performance evaluations through this type of test also allow more precise training plans to be prescribed, and the information obtained enables multiple aspects of a race to be monitored, such as the athlete’s performance level, VO 2 max per se, lactate tolerance and ER [32].

On the other hand, in the Tlim test of the present study, the average ratio between the amount of carbon dioxide produced in the metabolism and the oxygen used (RER) was 1.05. Theoretically, this value suggests glycolytic predominance and high lactate production [33]. It also indicates that carbohydrate oxidation was the main source of energy in the Tlim test; due to the intensity of the test (MAS), excess CO 2 was generated, resulting in an RER greater than 1.0 [9]. RER above 1.0 may be associated with increased in [La] in the Tlim test, as the values in this study exceeded 8 mmol ⋅ L - 1 [4, 9]. It has been verified in previous research that the determination of RER, lactate production and the absence of a plateau can ratify the VO 2 max, MAS, and the reliability of the Tlim test in the field [33]. Consequently, these values ensure that the participants reached the maximum levels in the Tlim test.

Comparing the results of the laboratory and the VO 2 max field tests, the gas analysis showed significant differences in favor of the latter ( 0.001 for 22 cases, 0.05 for men and 0.01 for women). However, despite the evidence, the findings were ambiguous when comparing both methods of measuring VO 2 max [34, 35, 36, 37]. Mooses et al. [36] found differences in favor of laboratory evaluation (68.5 ± 5.3 and 71.4 ± 6.4 mLO ⋅ 2 min ⋅ - 1 kg - 1 in the field and the laboratory, respectively, p = 0.105), whereas Schram et al. [37] evidenced higher values for evaluation in the field than in the laboratory ( + 5.28%, p = 0.03). A third study by Floriano et al. [35] revealed a higher VO 2 max in the field than in the laboratory (Tlim test: 51.1 ± 4.7 and 49.6 ± 4.7 mLO ⋅ 2 min ⋅ - 1 kg - 1 , respectively, p = 0.10). The results of most previous studies have shown higher VO 2 max evaluations in the field than in the laboratory. We recommend evaluating the same conditions of training and competition (outside the laboratory) for prescribing and training planning [10]. Indeed, discrepant assessment results between running on athletic tracks and treadmills can be caused by differences in air currents, ground surfaces, and movement patterns [26]. Finally, coaches should consider differences between the assessment of VO 2 max in the field and the laboratory, as this variable can affect the reliability of training loads.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, based on the performance of the Tlim test in the field, the 6MRT is a valid test for determining MAS in male college endurance athletes. By contrast, MAS in female college endurance athletes should be evaluated with a shorter test (between 5 and 5.30 minutes).

Author contributions

CONCEPTION: Álvaro H. Ojeda and Sergio A.G. Maliqueo.

PERFORMANCE OF WORK: Álvaro H. Ojeda, Sergio A.G. Maliqueo, Juan I.P. Pizarro and Rodrigo F. Kloss.

INTERPRETATION OR ANALYSIS OF DATA: Álvaro H. Ojeda.

PREPARATION OF THE MANUSCRIPT: Álvaro H. Ojeda and Juan I.P. Pizarro.

REVISION FOR IMPORTANT INTELLECTUAL CONTENT: Álvaro H. Ojeda, Sergio A.G. Maliqueo and Rodrigo F. Kloss.

SUPERVISION: Álvaro H. Ojeda and Rodrigo F. Kloss.

Ethical considerations

Both the study protocol and the informed consent were approved by the Ethics Committee in Human Research of the University of Granada, Spain (Register 493/CEIH/2018). The investigators followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Funding

The authors report no funding.