VO2FITTING Software: New Insights and Practical Applications (VO2FITTING Software Update).

Abstract

This study aimed to present an updated version of VO₂FITTING software, where it is possible to dynamically edit, process, filter and model $\dot{V}$ O₂ post-exercise data and to characterize the $\dot{V}$ O₂ on/off symmetry along different exercise intensity domains. Validation datasets were developed and applied to four widely used models for describing low, moderate, heavy and severe intensity transitions. Perfect fits were observed and parameter estimates perfectly matched the known inputted values for all available models (standard error = 0; p < 0.001). In addition, an experiment with 10 trained swimmers performing a 5 x 200 m front crawl protocol (with 0.05 m•s^-1 velocity step increments and 3-min passive rest intervals) was conducted. The on- and off-transient phases were symmetrical in their shape since they were both adequately fitted by a mono-exponential regression model and no slow component was observed independently of the intensity domain. Furthermore, the mono-exponential model without time delay best fitted the $\dot{V}$ O₂ off-transient data. The mean time constant of the on-transient period value was lower than the respective off-transient for all the intensities (15.8 ± 11.4 vs. 30.8 ± 10.4, 11.3 ± 2.3 vs. 29.7 ± 8.4, 13.9 ± 7.0 vs. 28.7 ± 10.8 and 10.3 ± 4.6 vs. 37.0 ± 9.2 s; p < 0.05). VO₂FITTING is valid, free and open-source software for characterizing $\dot{V}$ O₂ kinetics during both the exercise and recovery periods, helping researchers to give rapid feedback also about the off-transient kinetic parameters.