Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41553524›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2026

Reliability and validity of the steep ramp test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness in apparently healthy adults.

Ingeborg A Trul-Kreuze, Bart C Bongers, Darcy Ummels, Caspar Mylius, Anuschka S Niemeijer, Tim Takken, Marianne K Nieuwenhuis, Han Houdijk, Moniek Akkerman

Abstract readValidation Study
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In one paragraph

Article in European journal of applied physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ingeborg A Trul-KreuzeDepartment of Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Bart C BongersDepartment of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands. bart.bongers@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Darcy UmmelsResearch Centre for Autonomy and Participation of Persons with a Chronic Illness, Academy for Speech and Language Therapy, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
Caspar MyliusResearch Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Anuschka S NiemeijerAlliance of Dutch Burn Care, Burn Centre Groningen, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Tim TakkenChild Development and Exercise Center, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marianne K NieuwenhuisDepartment of Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Han HoudijkDepartment of Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Moniek AkkermanAlliance of Dutch Burn Care, Burn Centre Groningen, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Funding

Health~Holland PPS 20.01Nederlandse Brandwonden Stichting PPS 20.01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo investigate the test-retest reliability and validity of the steep ramp test (SRT), a short and practical maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer, for assessing CRF in apparently healthy adults aged 25–85 years.

methodsTo determine test-retest reliability, the reliability group performed the SRT twice within 2–14 days. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the attained work rate at peak exercise (WRpeak) at the SRT was calculated and agreement was evaluated using Bland-Altman plots. The smallest detectable change (SDC) was calculated. To determine criterion and construct validity of the SRT, the validity group performed both the SRT and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a single day. Correlation analyses were used to assess the relationship between SRT WRpeak and oxygen uptake (V̇O2) at peak exercise (V̇O2peak), V̇O2 at the first ventilatory threshold (V̇O2VT1), and the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) achieved during CPET.

resultsIn the reliability group (n = 66, 35 males), the ICC for SRT WRpeak was 0.992. Limits of agreement ranged from − 18.6 W (-5.4%) to 24.1 W (6.5%). The SDC was 15 W, 0.2 W/kg, or 4.2%. In the validity group (n = 61, 33 males), CPET V̇O2peak, V̇O2VT1, and OUES showed Pearson’s correlation coefficients with SRT WRpeak of 0.936, 0.806, and 0.891, respectively. The following equation predicts V̇O2peak (mL/min) from SRT performance: -280.784 + (8.680 × SRT WRpeak (in W)) (adjusted R2 = 0.874, SEE = 318.476).

conclusionThis study demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability, very high criterion validity, and high construct validity of the SRT for assessing CRF in apparently healthy adults.

Indexed as

Cardiorespiratory FitnessExercise TestAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOxygen ConsumptionReproducibility of ResultsClinimetric propertiesExercise testingHealthy populationPhysical fitnessPublic health

Identifiers

PMID41553524
PMCPMC13287098

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