Objective
To examine the relationship between the time constant of oxygen uptake kinetics during the onset of exercise (τVO₂) estimated from a single exercise bout and that obtained from three averaged exercise bouts in individuals with stroke.
Methods
Twenty participants with stroke performed three bouts of a constant-load pedaling exercise at approximately 80% of the workload corresponding to the ventilatory threshold to estimate τVO₂. The VO₂ data from the first trial of three bouts were used to estimate τVO₂ for a single bout. Additionally, data collected from three bouts were ensemble-averaged to obtain τVO₂ for three averaged bouts as the criterion.
Results
There was a very high correlation between τVO₂ for a single bout (34.8±14.0 seconds) and τVO₂ for three averaged bouts (38.5±13.4 seconds) (r=0.926, p<0.001). However, τVO₂ for a single bout was smaller than that for three averaged bouts (p=0.006).
Conclusion
τVO₂ for a single bout could reflect the relative difference in τVO₂ for three averaged bouts among individuals with stroke. However, it should be noted that τVO₂ for a single bout may be underestimated compared to τVO₂ for three averaged bouts.