Heart Rate and Blood Lactate Recovery after Queen’s College Step Test for Predicting VO2Max

Abstract

Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education 2(1): 58–67, 2014 - Literature data showed validation of Queen‟s College Step Test (QCT) based on heart rate (HR) in various experimental designs. The aim of this study was to increase the information on reliability of the functional capacity from recovery data of HR and blood lactate after QCT applying of indirect VO2max in volleyball and soccer players. Ten volleyball and ten soccer players age 20.3±1.42, 20.7±1.64 years; weight 78.2±6.94, 78.6±6.8 [kg]; height 184.6± 5.55, 183.0±5.86 [cm]; BMI 23±1.64, 23.4±2.19, performed QCT on 41.3 cm step box. HR was monitored and VO2max calculated by equation. Blood lactate (La) was measured pre- and post-test in the 1 st, 3 rd and 5th minute. Blood La values in the groups showed statistical difference between rest and recovery (p<0.05) but not between the 1st, 3rd and 5th min. The difference in HR, predicted VO2max and La between the two groups was insignificant. Despite the technical difference in volleyball and football both groups of athletes have the same aerobic capacity. Lactate mean values [1.22-2.7mmol.l-1] showed that the applied QCT was really submaximal for the subjects. For practical application it is suggested that  for more reliability when possible in group comparisons from QC to measure La and HR in 3 -5 min recovery period.

Keywords: step box, aerobic capacity, submaximal