Prediction of VO2max From Submaximal Exercise Using the Smartphone Application Myworkout GO

Jan Helgerud, Håvard Haglo, Jan Hoff

Physical inactivity is one of the leading health problems in the world. Exercise is important for rehabilitation, to enhance health, and for health maintenance, in addition to its role in conditioning for competitive sports. Robust evidence shows that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.  CRF typically assessed by directly measuring maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), is a potentially stronger predictor of mortality than established risk factors such as smoking.

This study aimed to determine the accuracy of using a smartphone and the application Myworkout GO for submaximal prediction of VO2max.

Participants included 162 healthy volunteers: 58 women and 104 men (17-73 years old). The study consisted of 3 experimental tests randomizedto 3 separate days. One-day VO2max was assessed with direct measurement of maximal oxygen consumption (“Gould standard”) with the participant walking or running on the treadmill. On the 2 other days, the application Myworkout GO used standardized high aerobic intensity interval training (HIIT, 4x4 min) on the treadmill to predict VO2max.

There were no significant differences between directly measured VO2max compared with the VO2max predicted by Myworkout GO (mean 50 mL/kg/min). The direct and predicted VO2max values were highly correlated and with a standard error of the estimate of 2 mL/kg/min, with no sex differences.

Conclusion: Myworkout GO accurately calculated VO2max, with an standard error of 4.5% in the total group. The submaximal HIIT session (4 x 4 minutes) incorporated in the application was tolerated well by the participants. We present health care providers and their patients with an accurate and practical version of health risk estimation. This might increase physical activity and improve exercise habits in the general population.

Read the full study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35925653/