A Psychophysiological Database of Maximal Effort Tests.

The lab (and research group) of Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel performs exercise tests in both trained and untrained populations. The aim of the maximal effort test is to evaluate endurance capacity and provide recommendations to monitor training load. Until now, this is done by objective parameters such as heart rate, speed, time, power, etcetera. Researchers already presented a method to quantify training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes based on the rating of perceived exertion. However, during pilot testing and everyday experience, these cut-off values are not always applicable to each individual athlete, nor are they the same for different sports. Therefore, the investigators want to investigate the possible relation between the exercise intensity, and objective and subjective parameters. Thereafter, the investigators want to provide recommendations to a new way of methodological approach during, and trainings advice after maximal effort tests.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy
• Trained
• No medication influencing heart rate or physical performance

Exclusion criteria

• Disease
• injury
• medication influencing (maximal) heart rate or exercise performance

Decision made after sports medical evaluation, comprising personal and family history, physical examination and resting electrocardiogram (ECG).