Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(03): 198-203
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-121148
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Confirming Maximal Oxygen Uptake: Is Heart Rate the Answer?

Don Keiller
1   Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University - Cambridge Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Dan Gordon
2   Department of Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 02 October 2017

Publication Date:
24 January 2018 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

This study investigates heart rate (HR), in 11 young adults (22.4±3.21yr), at V̇O2max, to ascertain whether measured maximal heart rate (HRmax), as determined by a plateau in HR (HRplat), can reliably confirm V̇O2max. V̇O2max and HRplat were determined, using the parameters of a V̇O2≤50 ml•min−1 and a ∆HR≤2b•min−1, respectively, over the final 60 s of sampling. V̇O2 was also independently determined using a verification phase protocol. A HRplat was achieved by 91% of participants (∆HR=1.3±1b•min−1) and critically the time at which HRmax was reached coincided with that at which V̇O2max was achieved. Moreover RER and ΔRER criteria were reached significantly earlier (p<0.05) than V̇O2max, whilst age-related heart rate maximums (HRage), were not achieved by many participants. The results suggest that a HRplat ≤2 b•min−1 is a more accurate method, within the group tested, to determine whether a ‘true’ V̇O2max has been achieved, than other secondary criteria and potentially avoids the requirement for an additional verification phase.

Key word

plateau - criteria - verification - cardiac response - VO 2max 
 

  • References

  • 1 Aitken JC, Thompson J. The respiratory VCO2/VO2 exchange ratio during maximum exercise and its use as a predictor of maximum oxygen uptake. Eur J Appl Physiol 1988; 57: 714-719
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Astorino TA, Robergs RA, Ghiasvand F, Marks D, Burns S. Incidence of the oxygen plateau during exercise testing to volitional fatigue. J Exerc Physiol 2000; 3: 1-12
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Astorino TA, Rietschel JC, Tam PA, Taylor K, Johnson SM, Freedman TP, Sakary CE. Reinvestigation of optimal duration of VO2max testing. J Exerc Physiol 2004; 7: 1-8
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Astorino TA. Alterations in VO2max and the VO2 plateau with manipulation of sampling interval. Clin Physiol Funct Imag 2009; 29: 60-67
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Astorino TA, White AC. Assessment of anaerobic power to verify VO2max attainment. Clin Physiol Funct Imag 2010; 30: 294-300
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Astrand PO, Saltin B. Maximal oxygen uptake and heart rate in various types of muscular work. J Appl Physiol 1961; 16: 977-981
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Bassett DR, Howley ET. Maximal oxygen uptake ‘classical’ versus ‘contemporary’ viewpoints. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1997; 29: 591-603
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Beltrami FG, Froyd C, Mauger AR, Metcalfe AJ, Marino F, Noakes TD. Conventional testing methods produce submaximal values of maximum oxygen consumption. Br J Sports Med 2012; 46: 23-29
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Calbet JA, Gonzalez-Alonso J, Helge JW, Søndergaard H, Munch-Andersen T, Boushel R, Saltin B. Cardiac output and leg and arm blood flow during incremental exercise to exhaustion on the cycle ergometer. J Appl Physiol 2007; 103: 969-978
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Day JR, Rossiter HB, Couts EM, Skasick A, Whipp BJ. The maximally attainable VO2 during exercise in humans: The peak vs. maximum issue. J Appl Physiol 2003; 95: 1901-1907
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Doherty M, Nobbs L, Noakes T. Low frequency of the “plateau phenomenon” during maximal exercise in elite British athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 619 - 623
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Duncan GE, Mahon AD, Howe CA, Del Corral P. Plateau in oxygen uptake at maximal exercise in male children. Pediatr Exerc Sci 1996; 8: 77-86
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Gledhill N, Cox D, Jamnik R. Endurance athletes’ stroke volume does not plateau: Major advantage is diastolic function. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1994; 26: 1116-1121
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Gonzales-Alonso J, Calbet JAL. Reductions in systemic and skeletal muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery limit maximal aerobic capacity in humans. Circulation 2003; 107: 824-830
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Gordon D, Hopkins S, King C, Barnes R. Incidence of the plateau at VO2max is dependent on the anaerobic capacity. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 1-6
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Gordon D, Mehter M, Gernigon M, Caddy O, Keiller D, Barnes R. The effects of exercise modality on the incidence of plateau of VO2max. Clin Physiol Funct Imag 2012; 32: 394-399
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Gordon D, Schaitel K, Pennefather A, Gernigon M, Keiller D, Barnes R. The incidence of plateau at VO2max is affected by a bout of prior-priming exercise. Clin Physiol Funct Imag 2012; 32: 39-44
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Gordon D, Wood M, Porter A, Vetrivel V, Gernigon M, Caddy O, Merzbach V, Keiller D, Baker J, Barnes R. Influence of blood donation on the incidence of plateau at VO2max . Eur J Appl Physiol 2014; 114: 21-27
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Harriss DJ, Macsween A, Atkinson G. Standards for Ethics in Sport and Exercise Science Research: 2018 Update. Int J Sports Med 2017; 38: 1126-1131
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Higginbotham MG, Morris KG, Williams RS, McHale PA, Coleman RE, Cobb FR. Regulation of stroke volume during submaximal and maximal upright exercise in normal men. Circ Res 1986; 58: 281-291
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Hill AV, Lupton H. Muscular exercise, lactic acid and the supply and utilisation of oxygen. Q J Med 1923; 16: 135-171
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Hill AV, Long CNH, Lupton H. Muscular exercise lactic acid and the supply and utilisation of oxygen: Parts VII-VIII. Proc R Soc Med 1924; 97: 155-176
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Howley ET, Bassett DR, Welch HG. Criteria for maximal oxygen uptake: review and commentary. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1995; 27: 1292-1301
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Howley ET. VO2max and the Plateau—Needed or Not?. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007; 39: 101-102
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Inbar O, Oren A, Scheinowitz M, Rotstein A, Dlin R, Casaburi R. Normal cardiopulmonary responses during incremental exercise in 20 to 70 year-old men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1994; 26: 538-546
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Jones AM. The physiology of the world record holder for the women’s marathon. Int J Sports Sci Coach 2006; 1: 101-116
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Katch VL, Sady SS, Freedson P. Biological variability in maximum aerobic power. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1982; 14: 21-25
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Kon Yoon B, Kravitz L, Robergs R. VO2max protocol duration and the VO2 plateau. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007; 7: 1186-1192
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Lepretre PM, Foster C, Koralsztein JP, Billat V. Heart rate deflection point as a strategy to defend stroke volume during incremental exercise. J Appl Physiol 2005; 98: 1660-1665
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Londeree BR, Moeschberger ML. Influence of age and other factors on maximal heart rate. J Card Rehab 1984; 4: 44-49
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Lucia A, Rabadan M, Hoyos J, Hernandex-Capilla M, Perez M, Suan-Juan AF, Earnest CP, Chicharro JL. Frequency of the VO2max plateau phenomenon in world class cyclists. Int J Sports Med 2006; 27: 984-992
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Midgley AW, McNaughton LR, Wilkinson M. Is there an optimal training intensity for enhancing the maximal oxygen uptake of distance runners?: Empirical research findings, current opinions, physiological rationale and practical recommendations. J Sports Med 2006; 36: 117-132
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Midgley AW, McNaughton LR, Polman R, Marchant D. Criteria for determination of maximal oxygen uptake: A brief critique and recommendations for future research. J Sports Med 2007; 37: 1019-1028
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Midgley AW, Carroll S. Emergence of the verification phase procedure for confirming ‘true’ VO2max . Scand J Med Sci Sports 2009; 19: 313-322
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Midgley AW, Carroll S, Marchant D, McNaughton LR, Siegler J. Evaluation of true maximal oxygen uptake based on a novel set of standardized criteria. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2009; 34: 115-123
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Misquita NA, Davis DC, Dobrovolny CL, Ryan AS, Dennis KE, Nicklas BJ. Applicability of maximal oxygen consumption criteria in obese, postmenopausal women. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2001; 10: 879-885
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Mole PA, Chung Y, Tran TK, Sailasuta N, Hurd R, Jue T. Myoglobin desaturation with exercise intensity in human gastrocnemius muscle. Am J Physiol 1999; 277: 73-80
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Moore GE, Brinker KR, Stray-Gundersen J, Mitchell JH. Determinants of VO2peak in patients with end-stage renal disease, on and off dialysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1993; 25: 18-23
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Poole DC, Wilkerson DP, Jones AM. Validity of criteria for establishing maximal O2 uptake during ramp exercise tests. Eur J Appl Physiol 2008; 102: 403-410
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Richardson RS. Oxygen transport: Air to muscle cell. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998; 30: 53-59
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Richardson RS, Newcomer SC, Noyszewski EA. Skeletal muscle intracellular PO2 assessed by myoglobin desaturation: Response to graded exercise. J Appl Physiol 2001; 91: 2679-2685
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Richardson RS, Duteil S, Wary C, Wray DW, Hoff J, Carlier PG. Human skeletal muscle intracellular oxygenation: The impact of ambient oxygen availability. J Physiol 2006; 571: 415-424
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Rivera-Brown AM, Rivera MA, Frontera WR. Reliability of vOpmax in adolescent runners: A comparison between plateau achievers and nonachievers. Pediatr Exerc Sci 1995; 7: 203-210
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Rivera-Brown AM, Frontera WR. Achievement of plateau and reliability of VO2max in trained adolescents tested with different ergometers. Pediatr Exerc Sci 1996; 10: 164-175
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Robergs RA. An exercise physiologist’s ‘Contemporary’ interpretations of the ‘Ugly and Creaking Edifices’ of the VO2max concept. J Exerc Physiol 2001; 4: 1-44
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 46 Robergs RA, Dwyer D, Astorino T. Recommendations for improved data processing from expired gas analysis indirect calorimetry. Sports Med 2010; 40: 95-111
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Rossiter HB, Kowalchuk JM, Whipp BJ. A test to establish maximal O2 uptake response to ramp incremental exercise. J Appl Physiol 2006; 100: 764-770
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 48 Rowland TW, Cunningham LN. Oxygen uptake plateau during maximal treadmill exercise in children. Chest 1992; 101: 485-489
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Roy J, Shephard C, Allen A, Benade JS, Davies CTM, di Prampero PE, Hedman R, Merriman JE, Myhre K, Simmons R. Standardization of submaximal exercise tests. Bull World Health Organ 1968; 38: 765-775
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 50 Shephard RJ. Is it time to retire the ‘Central Governor’?. Sports Med 2009; 39: 709-721
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 51 Smith TP, McNaughton LR, Marshall KJ. Effects of 4-week training using Vmax ⁄ Tmax on VO2max and performance in athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31: 892-896
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 52 Stringer WW, Hansen JE, Wasserman K. Cardiac output estimated noninvasively from oxygen uptake during exercise. J Appl Physiol 2007; 82: 908-912
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 53 Tanaka H, Monahan KD, Seals DR. Age-predicted maximal heart rate revisited. J Am Coll Cardiol 2001; 37: 15-36
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 54 Taylor HL, Buskirk E, Henschel A. Maximal oxygen intake as an objective measure of cardio-respiratory performance. J Appl Physiol 1955; 8: 73-80
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 55 Thoden JS. Testing aerobic power. Physiological testing of the high-performance athlete. 2nd ed. In: MacDougall JD, Wenger HA, Green HJ. (eds) Human Kinetics. Champaign USA; 1991: 107-173
    Google Scholar
  • 56 Vella CA, Robergs RA. A review of the stroke volume response to upright exercise in healthy subjects. Br J Sports Med 2005; 39: 190-195
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 57 Vieira SS, Lemes B, de T C de Carvalho P, de Lima RN, Bocalini DS, Junior J, Arsa G, Casarin CA, Andrade EL, Serra AJ. Does stroke volume increase during an incremental exercise? A systematic review. Open Cardiovasc Med J 2016; 10: 57-63
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 58 Wagner PD. New ideas on limitations to VO2max . Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2000; 28: 10-14
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 59 Wasserman K. Diagnosing cardiovascular and lung pathophysiology from exercise gas exchange. Chest 1997; 112: 1091-1101
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 60 Wasserman K, Hansen JE, Sue D, Stringer WW, Whipp BJ. Principles of exercise testing and interpretation. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2004
    Google Scholar
  • 61 Zhou B. Explanation of variance in VO2max for trained and untrained female college students. J Exerc Physiol 2004; 7: 69-74
    PubMedGoogle Scholar