LIMITATIONS OF VO2MAX
LIMITATIONS OF VO2MAX
INTRODUCTION
The maximum volume of oxygen that the body can consume, transfer, or employ during a given exercise is called VO2max. This indicates the physical well-being of an individual. However, a multitude of physiological functions limit a person’s endurance for exercise by limiting maximum oxygen consumption by the body (Katch et al., 2011).
VO2max is used to determine the fitness levels, not only in athletes, but also in patients with heart failure, and is therefore both a prognostic and diagnostic tool. It is measured as ‘millilitres of oxygen used/Kg of body weight/per minute’ (Baechle and Earle, 2008). An average weighed healthy male usually has a VO2max of 35–40 ml/Kg/min approximately. Similarly, an average weighed female usually scores a max oxygen consumption of 27–31 ml/Kg/min approximately (Heyward, 2006).
The table below displays standard VO2max classification ranges for both men and women.
VO2max (mL•kg-1•min-1) Classifications for Women (Skinner, 2005)
Age (years)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Superior
20 – 29
≤ 35
36 – 39
40 – 43
44 – 49
50+
30 – 39
≤ 33
34 – 36
37 – 40
41 – 45
46+
40 – 49
≤ 31
32 – 34
35 – 38
39 – 44
45+
50 – 59
≤ 24
25 – 28
29 – 30
31 – 34
35+
60 – 69
≤ 25
26 – 28
29 – 31
32 – 35
36+
70 – 79
≤ 23
24 – 26
27 – 29
30 – 35
36+
VO2max (mL•kg-1•min-1) Classifications for Men
Age (years)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Superior
20 – 29
≤ 41
42 – 45
46 – 50
51 – 55
56+
30 – 39
≤ 40
41 – 43
44 – 47
48 – 53
54+
40 – 49
≤ 37
38 – 41
42 – 45
46 – 52
53+
50 – 59
≤ 34
35 – 37
38 – 42
43 – 49
50+
60 – 69
≤ 30
31 – 34
35 – 38
39 – 45
46+
70 – 79
≤ 27
28 – 30
31 – 35
36 – 41
42+
The Fick principle (West, Schoene, and Milledge, 2007) states that oxygen uptake is dependent upon central oxygen delivery and peripheral tissue extraction. The oxygen uptake of the subject must equal the product of pulmonary blood flow and arteriovenous
INTRODUCTION
The maximum volume of oxygen that the body can consume, transfer, or employ during a given exercise is called VO2max. This indicates the physical well-being of an individual. However, a multitude of physiological functions limit a person’s endurance for exercise by limiting maximum oxygen consumption by the body (Katch et al., 2011).
VO2max is used to determine the fitness levels, not only in athletes, but also in patients with heart failure, and is therefore both a prognostic and diagnostic tool. It is measured as ‘millilitres of oxygen used/Kg of body weight/per minute’ (Baechle and Earle, 2008). An average weighed healthy male usually has a VO2max of 35–40 ml/Kg/min approximately. Similarly, an average weighed female usually scores a max oxygen consumption of 27–31 ml/Kg/min approximately (Heyward, 2006).
The table below displays standard VO2max classification ranges for both men and women.
VO2max (mL•kg-1•min-1) Classifications for Women (Skinner, 2005)
Age (years)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Superior
20 – 29
≤ 35
36 – 39
40 – 43
44 – 49
50+
30 – 39
≤ 33
34 – 36
37 – 40
41 – 45
46+
40 – 49
≤ 31
32 – 34
35 – 38
39 – 44
45+
50 – 59
≤ 24
25 – 28
29 – 30
31 – 34
35+
60 – 69
≤ 25
26 – 28
29 – 31
32 – 35
36+
70 – 79
≤ 23
24 – 26
27 – 29
30 – 35
36+
VO2max (mL•kg-1•min-1) Classifications for Men
Age (years)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Superior
20 – 29
≤ 41
42 – 45
46 – 50
51 – 55
56+
30 – 39
≤ 40
41 – 43
44 – 47
48 – 53
54+
40 – 49
≤ 37
38 – 41
42 – 45
46 – 52
53+
50 – 59
≤ 34
35 – 37
38 – 42
43 – 49
50+
60 – 69
≤ 30
31 – 34
35 – 38
39 – 45
46+
70 – 79
≤ 27
28 – 30
31 – 35
36 – 41
42+
The Fick principle (West, Schoene, and Milledge, 2007) states that oxygen uptake is dependent upon central oxygen delivery and peripheral tissue extraction. The oxygen uptake of the subject must equal the product of pulmonary blood flow and arteriovenous
References: Bottom of Form Allen H, (2010) Bottom of Form Amann M, and Jose AL C., (2008), Convective oxygen transport and fatigue, Journal of applied physiology 104.3, 861–870. Baden, D. A, McLean TL, Tucker R, Noakesn TD, and Gibson SC (2005). Effect of anticipation during unknown or unexpected exercise duration on ratings of perceived exertion, affect, and physiological function. Br J Sports Med, 39(1), 742–746. Burton D. A., Stokes K. & Hall G.M. (2004). Physiological effects of exercise [ONLINE]. Available at: http://ceaccp.oxfordjournals.org/content/4/6/185.full [Accessed 29th June 2013]. Balady, G. J., Arena, R., Sietsema, K., Myers, J., Coke, L., Fletcher, G. F. & Milani, R. V. (2010). Clinician’s guide to cardiopulmonary exercise testing in adults. Circulation, 122(2), 191–225. Bainbridge, (1931), The Physiology of Muscular Exercise. Third edition (ed. A. V. Bock and D. B. Dill), pp. 1–272. London: Longmans, Green & Co. Bassett, O.B. and Howley, E.T. (2000). Limiting Factors for Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Determinants of Endurance Performance. Medicine Science Sports Exercise, 32: 70–84l. Beltrami FG, (2012), Conventional testing methods produce sub maximal values of maximum oxygen consumption, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46 (1), 23–29. Christensen, E. H., (1931), Beitrag zur Physiologie schwerer körperlicher. IV: Mitteilung der Pulsfrequenz während und unmittelbar nach schwerer körperlicher Arbeit, Arbeits Physiologie, 4, 453–469. Fitts, R. H. (2008). The cross-bridge cycle and skeletal muscle fatigue. Journal of applied physiology, 104(2), 551–558. Fleg JL, Pina IL, Balady GJ, Chaitman BR, Fletcher B, Lavie C, Limacher MC, Stein RA, Williams M.(2000). Assessment of Functional Capacity in Clinical and Research Applications [ONINE]. Available at http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/13/1591.full. Hawkins, MN (2007), Maximal oxygen uptake as a parametric measure of cardio respiratory capacity, Med Sci Sports Exerc, 39, 103–171. Hill, L., (1923), Muscular exercise, lactic acid, and the supply and utilisation of oxygen, International Journal of Medicine, Vol. 16 (62), 135–171. Kenney, W. L., Wilmore, J. H., Costill, D. L., & Wilmore, J. H. (2012).Physiology of sport and exercise. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics. Kravitz L & Dalleck, L (2003). Physiological Factors Limiting Endurance Exercise Capacity. IDEA Health Fitness Source, Volume Number 4, 1–4. Levine, (2008). VO2max: What do we know, and what do we still need to know? Journal of Physiology, 25–34. Bottom of Form Morton, R.H., Stannard, S.R., Kay B., (2011), Lower producibility of many lactate markers during incremental cycle exercise McKenna, M. J., Bangsbo, J., & Renaud, J. M. (2008). Muscle K+, Na+, and Cl− disturbances and Na+-K+ pump inactivation: implications for fatigue. Journal of Applied Physiology, 104(1), 288–295. Noakes, (1998) Maximal oxygen uptake: “classical” versus “contemporary” viewpoints: a rebuttal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 30(9), 1381–1398. Reid, M. B, (2001), Invited Review: redox modulation of skeletal muscle contraction: what we know and what we don’t, Journal of Applied Physiology 90.2, 724–731. Saltin B, & Calbert J, (2006), Point: In health and in a normoxic environment, V̇o2 max is limited primarily by cardiac output and locomotor muscle blood flow, Journal of Applied Physiology, 100; 744–748. Suleman A. (2011).Exercise Physiology: [ONLINE].Available at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/88484-overview[Accessed Smith K., (2008) Men and Women In Hypoxia: The Influence Of Tissue Oxygenation On Repeated Sprintability: [ONLINE] Uth, N, Sorensen, H, Overgaard, K, & Pedersen, PK. (2004), Estimation of VO2max from the ratio between HR max and HR rest - the Heart Rate Ratio Method, European Journal of Applied Physiology, 91, 111–115. Wagner, P.O. (2000). New Ideas on Limitations to VO2 max. Exercise. Sport Science. Review. 28:10–14.