Percentages of Maximal Heart Rate, Heart Rate Reserve, and V̇O₂peak for Determining Endurance Training Intensity in Sedentary Women*

Abstract

The use of 60%-95% of maximal heart rate (HR max), heart rate reserve (HRR), and V̇O₂peak as exercise training intensities was examined in sedentary women, and these intensities were related to HR and VO2 observed at the lactate threshold (LT) and fixed blood lactate concentrations of 2.0, 2.5, and 4.0 mM. Thirty-three subjects (x̄age = 32.5±3.9 yrs; x̄ ht = 164.2±5.0 cm; x̄ wt = 67.6 + 13.9 kg) completed a V̇O₂/LT treadmill test using a level running protocol. The values at LT, 2.0, 2.5, 4.0 mM, and peak for V̇O₂ were 22.3, 29.0, 31.0, 36.2, and 39.1 ml/kg·min^-1, respectively; for velocity were 107.0, 128.9, 135.8, 152.8, and 164.4 m/min, respectively; and for HR were 142.1, 162.9, 169.4, 183.2, and 189.7 bts/min, respectively. The minimum intensity necessary for the majority of subjects to be above LT (n = 17) was 75% HR max while 90% HRmax was required forthe majority of subjects to be above 2.0 mM (n = 23) and 2.5 mM (n = 19). At 95% HR max 12 subjects were above 4.0 mM. For the majority of subjects to be above LT (n = 18), 55% HRR was necessary; 75%, 85%, and 95% HRR was required for the majority of subjects to be above 2.0 mM (n = 18), 2.5mM (n = 19),and 4.0 mM (n = 20), respectively. For percent V̇O₂peak, the intensities required for the majority of subjects to be above LT, 2.0 mM, 2.5 mM, and 4.0 mM were 55%, 75%, 80%, and 95% V̇O₂peak, respectively. It was concluded that if LT, 2.0, 2.5, and 4.0 mM are desired training intensities in sedentary women, use of an exercise prescription based, solely, on a uniform percentage of max HR, HRR, or V̇O₂peak may not be applicable.

Key words

Lactate threshold - onset of blood lactate accumulation - exercise prescription