Table 2 Mean (SD) maximal physiological values achieved during each of the cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) and heart rate during the first 3 min of recovery from each CPET

VO_2peak (ml · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹)

39.0 (7.1)

43.8 (4.6)

44.4 (5.0)

0.001

<0.001

NS

VO_2peak (L · min⁻¹)

2.934 (0.471)

3.320 (0.481)

3.342 (0.342)

<0.001

<0.001

NS

EE during CPET (kcal)

105 (29)

113 (19)

141 (42)

0.023

<0.001

0.001

HR_peak (beats · min⁻¹)

187 (10)

193 (9)

196 (9)

0.003

<0.001

NS

Oxygen pulse (beats · ml⁻¹)

15.7 (2.8)

17.3 (2.7)

17.1 (2.2)

0.002

0.005

NS

V_Emax (L · min⁻¹)

92.0 (16.3)

92.4 (12.6)

97.6 (12.1)

NS

NS

NS

RER_max

1.12 (0.04)

1.15 (0.04)

1.10 (0.04)

NS

NS

0.001

HR recovery 1^st min (beats · min⁻¹)

147 (11)

159 (13)

163 (12)

<0.001

<0.001

NS

HR recovery 2^nd min (beats · min⁻¹)

117 (13)

126 (13)

128 (11)

0.001

<0.001

NS

HR recovery 3^rd min (beats · min⁻¹)

108 (11)

112 (12)

114 (10)

NS

0.002

NS

Δ HR recovery 1^st min (%)

22 (3)

18 (4)

17 (4)

<0.001

<0.001

NS

Δ HR recovery 2^nd min (%)

37 (6)

35 (4)

35 (4)

0.046

0.013

NS

Δ HR recovery 3^rd min (%)

42 (5)

42 (4)

42 (4)

NS

NS

NS