1. Rationale/Purpose:
VO2max is used to measure human performance and is one of the oldest fitness
indicators ever established. This is important because our ability for maximal work
output is determined by our ability to consume oxygen. Cardiac output, oxygen carrying
capacity in our red blood cells and the amount oxygen utilized by the exercising skeletal
muscle are all factors in determining VO2max.
Methods:
The materials used in this lab included Hans Rudolph 2-way valve, which allows the
subject to inspire room air and exhale into the analyzers, a Pneumotachograph which
measure instantaneous gas flow, and Calibration Gas which provides a reference values
to calibrate the O2 and CO2 analyzers that are also used.
The first thing we did was fit the subject with headgear and mouthpiece and Obtain 2-3
minutes of resting data. We then had the subject do 3 minutes of comfortable walking.
The subject then chose a pace that they are comfortable with running for the remainder of
the test. The grade is then increased by 1% every minute after 2% grade is reached. The
test is only stopped when the subject reaches fatigue.
Results:
Graph 1
Graph 2
HR and Time
0
50
100
150
200
250
1.00 2.02 3.03 4.02 6.01 5.01 7.01 8.01 9.02 10.00
Time
HeartRate
Series1
3. Graph 4
Graph 5
VE and Power
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
0 25 37 50 62 74 94 108 108 121
Watts
L/min
VE L/min
VE/VCO2 and Power
33.00
34.00
35.00
36.00
37.00
38.00
39.00
40.00
41.00
42.00
0 37 25 50 62 74 94 108 121 135
Watts
VE/VCO2
VE/VCO2
4. Graph 6
The data graphed above is of a 23 year old female, 160 cm tall and 104 lbs. In Graph 5
there is an initial drop in VE/VCO2 and then a slow increase until the very end where
there is a sudden increase right before the end of the test. In Graph 6 similar results are
seen except there is a smaller initial drop in VE/VO2 initially and a smaller increase at
the very end of the test.
Conclusions:
It is known that a higher VO2 max is a good thing because your body can take in more
oxygen and deliver it to your exercising muscles which could enable you to run faster.
Heart rate, as expected in any VO2max test, increased with power. Initially it increased
more than towards the end of the test.
The maximum RER reached in the subjects test was just above 1.0 where a valid VO2
max test is 1.15 (Maximal Oxygen Consumption Test). Although the subject did not
reach the shot for value, the results still give us a good idea of the subject’s VO2max.
Ventilation also increased with power. It increased slowly at first but as the power in
watts got higher and higher ventilation increased in larger increments. This makes sense
because the harder you work, the more you ventilate.
VE/CO2 and VE/O2 were both supposed to increase as power increased, as seen with the
other variables tested. The reason that there was in initial drop in data rather than a steady
increase must have been due to error. Some of the possibilities could include improper
calibration gas connection, programming errors or time delay (Hoppe).
“The athlete is considered to have reached their VO2max if several of the following
occurred: a plateau or 'peaking over' in oxygen uptake, maximal heart rate was reached,
attainment of a respiratory exchange ratio of 1.15 or greater, and volitional exhaustion”
VE/VO2
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
0 25 37 50 62 74 94 108 121 135
Watts
BT/ST
VE/VO2
5. (Maximal Oxygen Consumption Test). As seen in the subject above there was a
momentary plateau in oxygen uptake (see graph 2) but it did not appear to me that
maximal heart rate was reached since it continued to increase pretty steadily throughout
the test. Also the RER of 1.15 was not reached, but volitional exhaustion was. Overall the
expected results were seen in some of our subject’s data and VO2max test was successful
although it may not be accurate. I would advise further testing to determine subject’s if
VO2max is accurate.
Works Cited:
Hoppe, John. Errors in VO2 Testing. Vacuumed. Asian Federation Sports Medicine
Congress in Amritsar. Published Dec. 27, 2009. Accessed December 7, 2015.
Maximal Oxygen Consumption Test. Topend Sports. Sports and Science. Published in
2015. Accessed December 7, 2015.
6. (Maximal Oxygen Consumption Test). As seen in the subject above there was a
momentary plateau in oxygen uptake (see graph 2) but it did not appear to me that
maximal heart rate was reached since it continued to increase pretty steadily throughout
the test. Also the RER of 1.15 was not reached, but volitional exhaustion was. Overall the
expected results were seen in some of our subject’s data and VO2max test was successful
although it may not be accurate. I would advise further testing to determine subject’s if
VO2max is accurate.
Works Cited:
Hoppe, John. Errors in VO2 Testing. Vacuumed. Asian Federation Sports Medicine
Congress in Amritsar. Published Dec. 27, 2009. Accessed December 7, 2015.
Maximal Oxygen Consumption Test. Topend Sports. Sports and Science. Published in
2015. Accessed December 7, 2015.
