Characterization of the metabolic demand of the 6-minute pegboard and ring test (6PBRT) in healthy Brazilian adults

Objective: to analyze metabolic and ventilatory demand during 6PBRT in healthy individuals and evaluate its relationship with isokinetic arm cycle ergometer. Methods: Sixty-six healthy volunteers underwent the 6PBRT and isokinetic arm cycle ergometer. The tests were randomized and performed with a 48-hours interval. The 6PBRT was performed twice with a minimum interval of 30 minutes between and the best performance was used for analysis. The characterization of the metabolic overload of 6PBRT was analyzed in comparison with the maximal effort test by the arm cycle ergometer. Results: There was a statistic difference between VO2mean 6PBRT and VO2 peak arm cycle ergometer (p<0.001) and peak heart rate during both tests (p<0.001). The METS from 6PBRT and from cycle ergometer was significant different (p<0.001). We found a moderate correlations between VO2mean at 6PBRT and VO2 peak arm cycle ergometer (r=0.38; p<0.002); VO2 peak arm cycle ergometer and VO2peak at 6PBRT (r=0.37; p=0.002). Numbers of rings moved was weak correlated with VO2peak at 6PBRT (r=0.25; p= 0.0046) and showed no correlation with VO2mean at 6PBRT (r=0.27; p=0.03). The analyses of the VO2 mean at 6PBRT showed a difference between the first minute of the test (1º) to the second (2º), third (3º), fourth (4º), fifth (5º) and sixth (6º) minutes of the test (p< 0.05) Conclusion: Based on the metabolic and ventilatory demand of 6PBRT is a submaximal test for healthy individuals. There were a moderate correlation between VO2mean at 6PBRT and VO2 peak arm cycle ergometer, VO2 peak arm cycle ergometer and VO2peak at 6PBRT. During 6PBRT the increase of VO2 mean was greater in the first minutes of the test.