97 JPJO 6 (1) (2021) 97-101 Jurnal Pendidikan Jasmani dan Olahraga Available online at: https://ejournal.upi.edu/index.php/penjas/article/view/6-1-13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/jpjo.v6i1.30301 Analysis of VO2MAX Differences between Laboratory Test and Field Test in Rowing Angga Muhammad Syahid Sport Physical Conditioning Study Program, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia Article Info Article History : Received October 2020 Revised November 2020 Accepted December 2020 Available online April 2021 Keywords : field test, laboratory test, rowing, VO2MAX Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the results of VO2max measurement using labor- atory test and field test. This research is a descriptive quantitative research with a com- parative approach. The samples of this study were 30 male and female athletes of the Indonesian rowing team (male = 17, female = 13) aged 23.5 ± 3.5 years. The anthropo- metric profile of the athletes included height = 182.2 ± 5.01 cm for male and 171.9 ± 5.73 cm for female, weight = 74.2 ± 5.85 kg for male and 68.6 ± 8.5 kg for female. According to the results of analysis of VO2max rowing test data gained from both methods, there were low and moderate correlations in the laboratory test and field test in rowing (male r = 0.425 and female r = 0.62). The results show that VO2max meas- ured in the laboratory test and field test did not show a significant difference. There- fore, these two parameter tests can be used in Vo2Max testing.  Correspondence Address : Universiti Teknologi MARA Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Seremban, Malaysia E-mail : rozita.abdlatif@uitm.edu.my https://ejournal.upi.edu/index.php/penjas/index 98 INTRODUCTION Rowing performance depends largely on aerobic and anaerobic functional capacities (S. A. Ingham et al., 2002). Rowing is a strength-endurance activity that re- quires activation of almost all muscles in the body. Therefore, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2Max) often appears as a strong relationship with rowing perfor- mance (Stephen A. Ingham et al., 2013). Maximal oxy- gen uptake (VO2Max) is defined as the maximum amount of oxygen taken and used by the body during exercise. This is one of the main variables in sport physiology to determine the cardiorespiratory fitness of an athlete (Bassett & Howley, 2000). The method employed to measure the VO2max level of an athlete consists of field and laboratory meas- urements (Santtila et al., 2013). The laboratory meas- urement is carried out by increasing the workload grad- ually and analyzing the absorption of oxygen and re- lease of carbon dioxide integrated with pulse in each period during the test (Matabuena et al., 2018). Mean- while, the measurement of VO2max in the field test is conducted by calculating the score based on the speci- fied time or distance (Gönülateş, 2018). In the field test, the prediction method is used as a calculation consideration based on heart rate, intensity, and volume while moving within a certain period of time (Kavcic et al., 2012). The advantages of this meth- od include the use of simple devices, easy to do, afford- able, involve more participants, and time efficient (Paradisis et al., 2014). Meanwhile, VO2max testing on laboratory test also has several advantages, such as a higher accuracy value, a greater number of measure- ment analysis component indicators, and maximum test results (Lee et al., 2011). However, laboratory tests re- quire skilled and competent human resources, take longer to process, expensive, and need to be carried out in limited laboratories (Grant et al., 1999). A number of studies have compared the results of VO2max values obtained from field tests and laborato- ry tests in various types of sports (Kavcic et al., 2012) (Gönülateş, 2018). However, comparative analysis of the VO2max test in rowing with different dominant movements and the use of an ergometer test device that is suitable for the characteristics of the performed movements is still rarely done. In addition, by consider- ing differences in metabolic systems, energy require- ments, and limited data related to athletes' physiology with special movement characteristics; this study was aimed to analyze the VO2max measurement method by measuring field tests and laboratory tests on rowing by considering the dominant movement mechanism in the sport. METHODS The method used was descriptive quantitative re- search with a comparative approach. Participants The samples of this study were 30 athletes of the Indonesian rowing team, consisting of 17 males and 13 females. Anthropometric profiles of the athletes are presented in Table 1. Materials and Apparatus The instruments used in this study were: 1. Multi-use silicone face mask. The instrument that can be easily use to measure the VO2max during the sessions. This mask kit is made of silicone to minimize air leakage during the testing. 2. Cosmed Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) 3. Calibration Syringe 3L COSMED. 4. Polar H6 Heart Rate Sensor as a digital heart rate sensor device. 5. Treadmill ergometer, paddle ergometer. 6. Screen monitors, projectors, and bleep test software applications. Procedures The laboratory test applied in this study was the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) using the Quark PFT Ergo (COSMED® Rome, Italy) on the rowing er- gometer (Figure 1). The athletes were asked to warm up on a rowing ergometer with a drag factor of 80 for 10 minutes. Next, a Quark PFT Ergo (COSMED® Rome, Italy) was attached to the athlete to start the test. The protocol of the test was the step test on the rowing er- gometer. The athletes performed a row on the ergome- Copyright © 2021, authors, e-ISSN : 2580-071X , p-ISSN : 2085-6180 Angga Muhammad Syahid et al./ Jurnal Pendidikan Jasmani dan Olahraga 6 (1) (2021) Table 1. Height and Weight Weight (kg) Height (cm) Male (n = 17) 74.15 ± 5.85 182 ± 5.01 Female (n = 13) 61.39 ± 5.57 171 ± 5.73 99 ter with a drag factor of 115 for women and 130 for men for 5 minutes. The drag factor was increased grad- ually (20 drag factor in every minute) until the athlete was unable to row. The test protocol for field test measurement used a 20 meters multi stage shuttle run test. This test involved running continuously between two lines with 20 meter distance. The participants stood behind one of the lines facing the second line, then started running when prompted by a beep. The speed at the start was quite slow. The subjects kept running between the two lines, then turn back to the second line once indicated by the ‘beep’ sound. After about a minute, the ‘beep’ sound indicated an increase of speed, and the ‘beep’ got closer and closer. It continued every minute (level). When the line was reached before the beep sounds, the subject had to wait for the beep to sound before continuing. But, when the line was not reached before the beep, the subjects were warned and should continue running to the line, then turn back and try to catch up in two more beeps. Subjects were warned the first time they failed to reach the line within 2 meters and were eliminated after the second warning. Data Analysis The data analysis process was carried out using Statistical Product and Service Solution version 25.0 with Pearson's product moment test. The test was per- formed to determine the degree of correlation between 2 variables, with an interval or ratio scale, by changing this value into a correlation coefficient ranging from - 1.0 to 1. A value of -1 means that there is a perfect neg- ative correlation, while 0 means no correlation, whereas 1 indicates a perfect positive correlation. RESULT Table 2 presents the mean and standard deviation of the measurement results of VO2max values on labor- atory tests, for male (55.72 ± 3.27), and female (50.73 ± 3.27). Meanwhile, the mean and standard deviation of the VO2max testing on the field test were 61.92 ± 3.22 for male and 50.34 ± 4.71 for female. The mean of both tests presented in Table 2 show a higher result on the field tests than laboratory tests carried out by male subjects but not significant for fe- male. The data in Figure 2 describes the correlation of the male Vo2Max values between the field test and the laboratory test on Rowing. Copyright © 2021, authors, e-ISSN : 2580-071X , p-ISSN : 2085-6180 Angga Muhammad Syahid et al./ Jurnal Pendidikan Jasmani dan Olahraga 6 (1) (2021) Figure 1. VO2max Test with COSMED on Rowing Machine Table 2. The Result of Vo2max Tests Field Tests Laboratory Tests Male (n = 17) 61.92 ± 3.22 55.72 ± 3.27 Female (n = 13) 50.34 ± 4.71 50.73 ± 4.17 Figure 2. Correlation between Field Tests and Laboratory Test on Male Athletes 100 The data from Figure 2 illustrates that there is a low positive correlation of the VO2max measurement results between the field and laboratory test approaches for rowing in male subjects (r = 0.425). This relation- ship shows that the results of the VO2max test carried out by laboratory tests did not have a significant differ- ence with the results of field tests, yet indicated a low level of correlation, which means that the two test pa- rameters can be used in rowing for male athletes. The data in Figure 3 describes the correlation re- sults of the female Vo2Max values from field tests with the laboratory on rowing. The data from Figure 3 shows that there is a sig- nificant positive relationship on the VO2max measure- ment results of the female subjects between field and laboratory test approaches in rowing (r = 0.62). This relationship indicates that the results of the VO2max obtained from the laboratory tests did not have a signif- icant difference with the results of field measurements with a moderate level of correlation, which means that the two test parameters can be used in rowing for fe- male athletes. DISCUSSION This study was aimed to analyze the VO2max measurement method using field and laboratory VO2max tests in rowing by considering the dominant movement mechanism that is different from other spe- cific tests. The Vo2Max results on the field test was 61.92, while for the laboratory test was 55.72 with a correlation value (r = 0.425) in male athletes showing that both tests could be used for rowing tests. The low correlation indicates the need to select an objective test for rowing, which is closer to the real condition on the male test considering the dominant characteristics of rowing movements. Previous studies presented the selection of labora- tory tests for better measurement (Lee et al., 2011). While the results of the analysis of VO2max test data on female athletes concluded that, in the tests using field and laboratory measurements, there was a signifi- cant relationship with the moderate category in rowing (r = 0.62). Another study conducted by comparing the values of laboratory and field tests in badminton also obtained the same results that the two tests could be used; the study also obtained high correlation results because the dominant characteristic of movements in the two tests used were not much different (Rusdiana, 2020). CONCLUSION The correlation results show that the VO2max test result carried out using the laboratory measurement did not have significant differences with the field measure- ment. Therefore, these two parameters can be used in the VO2max rowing test. In addition, the correlation results differ between the male and female athletes. It indicates that physiology gender-specific tests need to be reassessed for male and female athletes. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors would like to thank the rowing organi- zation (PB.PODSI) and also the Sport Science Labora- tory of the Faculty of Sports and Health Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia for supporting the implementation of this research. REFERENCES Bassett, D. R., & Howley, E. T. (2000). Limiting fac- tors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance. / Facteurs limitants de la consommation maximale d’oxygene et determinants de la performance d’endurance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 32(1), 70–84. 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