Confirming Maximal Oxygen Uptake: Is Heart Rate the Answer?

Abstract

This study investigates heart rate (HR), in 11 young adults (22.4±3.21yr), at V̇O_2max, to ascertain whether measured maximal heart rate (HR_max), as determined by a plateau in HR (HR_plat), can reliably confirm V̇O_2max. V̇O_2max and HR_plat were determined, using the parameters of a V̇O₂≤50 ml•min^-1 and a ∆HR≤2b•min^-1, respectively, over the final 60 s of sampling. V̇O₂ was also independently determined using a verification phase protocol. A HR_plat was achieved by 91% of participants (∆HR=1.3±1b•min^-1) and critically the time at which HR_max was reached coincided with that at which V̇O_2max was achieved. Moreover RER and ΔRER criteria were reached significantly earlier (p<0.05) than V̇O_2max, whilst age-related heart rate maximums (HR_age), were not achieved by many participants. The results suggest that a HR_plat ≤2 b•min^-1 is a more accurate method, within the group tested, to determine whether a 'true' V̇O_2max has been achieved, than other secondary criteria and potentially avoids the requirement for an additional verification phase.