Validity and reliability of combining three methods to determine ventilatory threshold

Purpose: This research was undertaken to validate a combination of methodologies to determine ventilatory threshold (VT). Methods: Three methods were used individually and then combined to determine VT as follows: 1) ventilatory equivalencies, 2) excess CO₂ production, and 3) a modified V-slope method. Three groups of participants - endurance athletes (N = 132), healthy, aerobically active adults (N = 31), and healthy, sedentary/low-active adults (N = 22) - were independently evaluated for VT and compared with the criterion standard lactate threshold (LT) defined as the first rise in blood lactate with increasing intensity of exercise. Results: VT and LT were significantly correlated using the combined VT method within each study group (r = 0.98, 0.97, and 0.95, respectively; P 〈 0.001). Mean V̇O₂ values at VT and LT were not significantly different between the three groups (P 〉 0.20). The combined method improved the determination rate of VT and reduced the standard deviation of the LT-VT difference by 80-170% over the individual methods. During test-retest procedures V̇O₂lt and V̇O₂vt determined by the combined method met criteria demonstrating further reliability. Conclusion: The combined method to determine VT is valid and reliable across a wide fitness range in healthy individuals and improves the determination rate and accuracy of VT determination over the use of single methods.