DETERMINATION OF MAXIMAL OXYGEN CONSUMPTION (VO2MAX) LAB REPORT
Introduction
Background:
In this lab, we explored the theory of maximal oxygen consumption. “Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is defined as the highest rate at which oxygen can be taken up and utilized by the body during severe exercise” (Bassett and Howley, 2000). VO2max is measured in millimeters of O2 consumed per kilogram of body weight per min (ml/kg/min). It is commonly known as a good way to determine a subject’s cardio-respiratory endurance and aerobic fitness level. Two people whom are given the same aerobic task (can both be considered “fit”) however, the more fit individual can consume more oxygen to produce enough energy to sustain higher, intense work loads during exercise. The purpose of this lab experiment was performed to determine the VO2max results of a trained vs. an untrained participant to see who was more fit.
Methods & Materials
Participants/Materials:
This lab experiment was conducted in a Texas Woman’s University exercise physiology lab room, on September 20, 2013. It consisted of two main participants: A trained participant (Male; 30 years old; 72 in. tall; 82.9 kg) and an untrained participant (Female; 20 years old; 65 in. tall; 75 kg). They were selected by my Prof. April Hartman to participate because they were best qualified to conduct the study in our class. Both participants were assigned to carry out the same experimental task. The Bruce Protocol (graded test) on a treadmill (mode of exercise) was used to conduct the VO2max test. The materials needed were: 1 metabolic cart (with computers); 2 mouthpieces; 1 nose clip; 1 treadmill; 1 RPE scale; 1 timer; pen; paper; and a HR monitor.
Procedure:
1) The m...
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...roduces more blood lactate that it can reabsorb. At this point ventilation increases exponentially. The goal with lactate threshold training is to raise your threshold point to as close as possible to your maximum heart rate, and improve your ability to withstand that discomfort” (Messonnier, 2013). This concept was depicted by the trained participant. As stated in the introduction and discussion sections and depicted throughout the graphs one can conclude that the trained participant was in fact more fit and could consume more oxygen than the untrained participant.
Conclusion:
The higher a person’s VO2max, the longer they can sustain endurance events at higher training intensities. Conclusively, the experiment proved that the trained participant had a higher VO2max (higher oxygen consumption) and was indeed more fit than that of the untrained participant.
Another weakness in the experimental design was that the reliability of the experiment was very low. As each test subject was only tested against each amount of prior exercise once, the impact of random errors is likely very large, which can be seen by the spread of the data on the graph. Although, this was attempted to be rectified by averaging the results of all four test subjects, it does not improve reliability too much. Conclusion: The results of this investigation indicated that a relationship between the amount of prior exercise and muscle fatigue does exist, however the results are also not conclusive enough to speculate on what the relationship is. This means that the hypothesis “If the amount of time spent performing vigorous exercise prior to the set of repetitions increases, then the physical performance (number of repetitions) will decrease” cannot be supported or rejected due to the inconclusive data.
Submaximal and maximal exercise testing are two analytic methods that can be used to examine the cardiovascular, and cardiorespiratory fitness/health levels of the individual being examined. Submaximal testing is usually preferred over maximal mainly because the submaximal exam is more practical in a fitness/health environment. Both test require the individual being examined to perform controlled exercise on a(n) treadmill/ergometer until either steady state has consecutively been reached (submax), or the individual reaches their max (close to it). Being that both test are set to exceed time limits of more than 3 minutes we examine the use of the ATP-PC, Glycolytic, and Oxidative energy systems. Although a huge portion of the test involves the use of the oxidative energy system, we must remember that the three systems are co-occurrent.
In a similar study, researchers determined VO2 max using four different methods of treadmill running, cycle ergometer, step test and prediction2. The results found that the treadmill had the highest VO2 max followed by the ergometer, and the step test and prediction were the lowest2. This supports the findings of our experiment, showing that VO2 max will be higher2 depending the tests mode of exercise and how trained the subject is in that exercise.
This study observed the standard and routine metabolic rates and swimming activities of nurse sharks. Nurse sharks use buccal pumping to rest on the sea floor. This sedentary behavior had not yet been studied in relation to metabolic rates before this study. This study also is one of few that observed the effcts of temperature on metabolism in sharks. By assessing the relationship between routine metabolism and ecology, a more precise understanding of the nurse sharks daily energy requirements could be obtained.
Methods: The participants of this study took part in the Step Test which is a form of cardiovascular exercise (Kusinitz and Fine 1995). The Step Test involved the individuals stepping up and down the low step platform for a consecutive three minutes.
VA Cornelissen, B Verheyden, AE Aubert and RH Fagard. Effects of aerobic training intensity on resting, exercise and post-exercise blood pressure, heart rate and heart-rate variability. Journal of Human Hypertension (2010) 24, 175–182. Ebsohost. Available from: http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.elmhurst.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=1e07b620-5e31-4733-ac67-63170534f7b3%40sessionmgr115&vid=2&hid=126
McKenzie, D. C. (2012). Respiratory physiology: Adaptations to high-level exercise. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(6), 381. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090824
•While exercising your lungs tries to increase the intake of oxygen as well as release the carbon dioxide.
Overall, the data collected from this lab supported the hypothesis that even though the 1.5 mile run test will not produce the highest average VO2 max, the results of the 1.5 mile run will produce the most accurate VO2 max results as the test puts more physiological demand on the body compared to the Queens College/McArdle Step Test and the Rockport One Mile Walk Test. Even though theoretically all three of the field tests should have produced the same estimate of aerobic capacity, the three tests produced different results due to various reasons. Since the 1.5 mile run placed the most physiological demands on the body, this test was a better indicator of individual VO2 max. Overall, all three of the field tests proved that males had a higher average VO2 max compared to women. In addition, individuals who are aerobically trained tend to perform better considering these individuals are able to sustain a higher intensity level for a longer amount of
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AIM: - the aim of this experiment is to find out what the effects of exercise are on the heart rate. And to record these results in various formats. VARIABLES: - * Type of exercise * Duration of exercise * Intensity of exercise * Stage of respiration
...xercise carbohydrate availability on selection and perception of effort during prolonged cycling. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 98(1), 62-70. doi: 10.1007/s00421-006-0243-4
In order to fully understand the impact and effect of overtraining, defining and establishing the difference of what overtraining is from other conditions, such as overreaching, is necessary. Overtraining is defined as the accumulation of both training and non-training stresses producing a long-term effect on the athlete’s performance capacity, with or without physical and psychological overtraining signs and symptoms in which recovery of the performance capacity will take weeks to months (Halson, 2004 p. 969). Overreaching, however, is defined by the accumulation of training and non-training stresses with a short-term effect on the a...
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