Maximum oxygen intake and maximum heart rate during strenuous work

Abstract

At least five separate determinations were made of oxygen intake and heart rates at various levels of work on a bicycle ergometer, up to and above the maximum level of O 2 intake of four highly trained men. From these measurements it has been possible to fit appropriate curves to the experimental data and test for their goodness of fit. At low rates of work a straight line fits both O 2 intake and heart rate plots against work rate, but at high work rates the curves tend toward an asymptote. The O 2 intake curve reaches its asymptote more slowly than does the heart rate; hence, if heart rate is plotted against O 2 intake and a straight line fitted and extrapolated to the maximum value of heart rate, the O 2 intake at this value is an underestimate of the actual measured maximum O 2 intake. Because of the characteristic slope of the best-fit curve of oxygen intake against work rate, the criteria proposed by some earlier investigators for the level of O 2 intake at which the maximum is unequivocally attained, is open to criticism. An alternative is proposed. The maximum levels of O 2 intake and maximum heart rate of trained men studied over 4 months is remarkably constant, having average coefficients of variation of 4.3% and 3.5%, respectively. Submitted on December 2, 1958