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Int J Sports Med 1994; 15(5): 228-231
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021051
Training and Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Relation Between Power Output, Oxygen Uptake and Heart Rate in Male Athletes

F. J.P. Arts, H. Kuipers
  • Department of Physiology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

As the exercise intensity is often expressed as percentage of either maximal workload (%Wmax), percentage of maximal heart rate (%HRmax), or as percentage of maximal oxygen uptake, the relationship between %Wmax, %V̇O2max, and %HRmax was determined in 53 male cyclists. All subjects performed an incremental maximal cycle ergometer test. In all athletes examined, a linear relation between power output, oxygen uptake and heart rate was observed. The relationships between %Wmax and %V̇O2max as well as between %Wmax and %HRmax were linear (r= 0.98 and r= 0.97; p<0.001). It is concluded that studies which are different in expression of exercise intensity (%Wmax or %V̇O2max) can be compared and that the relation between %Wmax and %HRmax needs to be determined individually when an appropriate individualized training intensity based on heart rate is required.

Key words

Cycle ergometry - maximal power output - maximal oxygen uptake - maximal heart rate - exercise testing