VO2 Reserve and the Minimal Intensity for Improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Authors

David P. Swain, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Barry A. Franklin, Old Dominion University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2002

DOI

10.1097/00005768-200201000-00023

Publication Title

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

Volume

34

Issue

1

Pages

152-157

Abstract

Purpose: The American College of Sports Medicine has stated that aerobic: training needs to occur at a minimum threshold intensity of 50% VO_2max for most healthy adults and at 40% VO_2max for those with a very low initial fitness. Recently, the concept of VO₂ reserve (% VO₂R, i.e., a percentage of the difference between maximum and resting VO₂ has been introduced for prescribing exercise intensity, This analysis was designed to determine the threshold intensity for improving cardiorespiratory fitness expressed as %VO₂R units. Methods: Previous studies in healthy subjects (N = 18) that evaluated the result, of training at low-to-moderate intensities (i.e., less than or equal to 60% VO_2max) were identified. The original studies described the intensity of exercise variously as %VO_2max, %HRR, %HR_max or as a specific HR value. In each case, the intensity was translated into %VO₂R units. Results: Exercise training intensities below approximately 45% VO₂R were consistently ineffective at increasing VO_2max in studies that used subjects with mean initial VO_2max values > 40 mL.min^-1 kg^-1. In studies using subjects with mean initial VO_2max values < 40 mL.min^-1.kg^-1, no intensity A as found to be ineffective. For this latter group of subjects, the lowest intensities examined A ere approximately 30% VO₂R. Conclusion: Although evidence for a threshold intensity was not strong, this analysis of training studies support the use of 45% VO₂R as a minimal effective training intensity for higher fit subjects and 30% VO₂R for lower fit subjects.

Comments

Web of Science: "Free full-text from publisher -- gold open access."

Copyright © 2002 by the American College of Sports Medicine

Original Publication Citation

Swain, D. P., & Franklin, B. A. (2002). VO₂ reserve and the minimal intensity for improving cardiorespiratory fitness. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(1), 152-157. doi:10.1097/00005768-200201000-00023

Repository Citation

Swain, David P. and Franklin, Barry A., "VO2 Reserve and the Minimal Intensity for Improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness" (2002). Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications. 80.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/hms_fac_pubs/80