Most athletes have heard of it, but very few could define it: VO2max. As the fitness professor explains to us, you could call it the «gross performance criterion» for competitive athletes – and also how this is to be understood in more detail.
What upper arm circumference is to bodybuilders, VO2max is to a certain extent to endurance athletes. Because while the main goal of bodybuilders is to build up as much muscle mass as possible, it is for endurance athletes to achieve the best possible endurance performance. And this is classically measured in the form of VO2max. But what exactly does this value mean?
According to the fitness pro, VO2max is for endurance athletes what upper arm circumference is for bodybuilders – the gross performance criterion, so to speakPhoto: Getty Images
What exactly is VO2max?
VO2max stands for the maximum possible oxygen uptake during exercise. This means how much oxygen the body can not only absorb but also utilize. If you divide the respiratory system into internal and external respiration, this value does not mean external respiration (transport air through the mouth and nose into the lungs)but the capacity of internal respiration (to transport the oxygen through the bloodstream to the muscles). This then depends on other factors, such as the number of red blood cells.
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Measure VO2max value – this is how it works!
There are several ways to determine VO2max. Some manufacturers of heart rate monitors offer such a function, but these results are based almost exclusively on logarithms and are therefore usually not very accurate. The gold standard is and remains spirometry, i.e. respiratory gas measurement. Here the oxygen content of the inhaled and exhaled air is measured under stress conditions – mostly on the treadmill or bicycle ergometer – and this is related to the time and body weight factor. These measurements are offered in sports medicine facilities, but also more and more by experienced personal trainers.
The VO2max says something about the fitness condition – at least for endurance athletesPhoto: Getty Images
The validity of the VO2max is very high in terms of endurance and, since this is an essential part of physical fitness, quite important. However, it does not make any statements about the factors of strength, mobility, speed and coordination – as a sole parameter it is therefore not comprehensive enough. If you do endurance sports, the VO2max would be an interesting indicator for the training status, or the maximum performance. In addition, it can be said that good endurance also benefits other motor skills, such as strength. You regenerate faster between the loads and can therefore pack more training into your training.
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But while we’re on the subject of spirometry…
By measuring the respiratory gases, you can also determine the so-called basal metabolic rate, i.e. the amount of calories that your body consumes when you are absolutely still. And since most people in the gym either want to lose weight or build muscle, such information would of course be worth its weight in gold. Basically, if you want to build muscle, you have to eat more than you use up. If you want to lose weight, you should eat a little fewer calories so that the body can attack the existing fat reserves.
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