The effects of a 16 week aerobic exercise programme on circulating lymphocyte subpopulations: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Maximal exercise testing provides valuable information and is widely considered a gold standard measure of aerobic capacity (VO2max). However, maximal exercise testing can be very labour intensive and can pose potentially hazardous in certain populations; such as the elderly, those previously sedentary or individuals with a history of chronic lung or heart conditions. Consequently, sub maximal exercise testing is used in a variety of clinical and research settings. Submaximal exercise testing can be divided into two broad categories: predictive or performance based. Much of the literature to date involving submaximal exercise testing employs prediction equations to estimate oxygen consumption at a given sub maximal workload. Maximal oxygen uptake is then estimated based upon these original predictions. There is a paucity of research using indirect calorimetry to measure oxygen uptake while undertaking submaximal exercise testing.