Maximal Oxygen Consumption and Gender Differences in VO2 Max Testing

Maximal oxygen consumption, or VO2 max, is a critical measure of an individual's aerobic capacity and overall fitness level. This study explores the concept by evaluating VO2 max testing in both sexes, revealing that men typically exhibit higher values than women due to several physiological factors. These include differences in heart size, maximal cardiac output, and body composition, such as fat percentage. The research also discusses how aerobic training can enhance VO2 max, delaying fatigue during high-intensity exercises. By understanding these disparities and contributing factors, the study provides insights into personalized fitness assessments and interventions.

Applied Physiology 1
APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

Applied Physiology 2
Introduction
Fitness forms one of the most fundamental requirements for a successful athlete. In most cases,
athletes are perceived to be ever fit and give keen attention to fitness as the fitness is important to
them should they need to remain competitive in the world of sports (Schwellnus, 2009, p.178).
While undergoing training, an athlete is required to first perfect his fitness skills before he can be
allowed to proceed with building on his techniques of the game he intends to specialize on. This
calls for the need of the assessment of each of the athletes before a training session kicks off.
Various methods of assessments of the fitness have been established among them field tests and
laboratory-based tests of which both of them have procedures on how they are to be conducted.
Field-based Fitness Assessments
Just like the case of laboratory-based assessment tests, field-based assessment is used in keeping
track of the variations in the fitness of an athlete over time as well as identification of the
strengths and weaknesses of the athlete (Plowman, 2013, p.155). These assessments are
important in providing limelight on where there is a need for the trainer and the trainee to inject
extra effort to achieve maximum performance by the athlete. That way, these assessments are
important in helping the trainer to design the most appropriate training programs for the athlete.
Field tests involve the assessors of the fitness of the trainee moving to the venue where the
trainee is undergoing training. It is at the training venue that the test is conducted. This makes
such tests more specific to sports and thus very convenient for such games as soccer, cricket,
netball and basketball. Among the field tests that are commonly carried out, include sprint tests
and vertical jump tests among other tests.
Laboratory-based fitness assessments

Applied Physiology 3
these refer to fitness tests that are carried out indoors. Compared to field tests, laboratory tests
should be done since they:
 are carried out in controlled environments
 can allow submaximal tests to be carried out
 give a greater insight into the strengths and weaknesses of an athlete (Reilly, 2013, p.269)
Among the most commonly performed laborarity tests include maximal oxygen consumption
test, lactate threshold and gross efficiency among other tests. For this experiment, maximal
oxygen consumption test was conducted, and the rsulted found recorded.
Maximal oxygen consumption test
Maximal oxygen consumption test also know as VO2 max test is a test used in the determination
of the highest rate of intake of oxygen of an athlete manageable when involved in an activity that
uses a lot of muscle mass. This test is important it is used in ye establishment of the measure of
the overall fitness of the cardiovascular system (Narvani, 2014, p.178). This test as well helps in
setting up the upper limit on the generation of energy in the form of ATP through aerobic means.
This means that the higher the VO2max of an athlete the higher the fitness levels even though
this ability does not determine the level of endurance of an athlete.
When one engages in a physical exercise, it is observed that the heartbeat increases thus more
blood is pumped throughout the body (White, 2009, p.251). The pumped blood is pumped
together with oxygen. The more fit the body of an athlete the more the oxygen that will be
pumped around the body when the athlete engages in an exercise. As the athlete engages in
exercise the heartbeat in increased thereby making more blood to pump out of the heart around
the body. The circulating blood carries with it oxygen hence the higher the amount of blood

Applied Physiology 4
pumped the higher the intake of oxygen. Scientifically, while assessing fitness using this test the
higher the amount of oxygen that an individual can ump into the body the higher the levels of
fitness.
There are two types of maximal oxygen consumption test: maximal and submaximal tests.
Maximal VO2 is in most cases meant for professional and semi-professional athletes and are
geared towards pushing the athlete to the extreme capabilities of his cardiovascular systems
(Medicine, 2013, p.248). In this test, the athlete is expected to exercise to the point at which the
muscles are fatigued, the point at which the athlete is unable to either run or cycle any longer.
On the other hand, semi-maximal VO2 max testing is applied in the establishment of the levels of
fitness by the manner in which the heart rate responds to a load of work or level of intensity
applied during the test. Upon establishment of the values of the work load and the heart rates, it
is possible for a professional in fitness to estimate the fitness level. The fitness professional can
give information on the quantity of oxygen that the athlete pumps around the body at a time
(Ashok, 2008, p.315).
The results of the maximal oxygen consumption test performed are as tabulated and graphed.
Men
SPM202
8 lab
results
Cycle
ergometer max
measurement
Cycle ergometer
astrand predicted
Male
Subject
(n=12)
VO2max
L.min-1
VO2max ml.kg-
1.min-1 VO2max L.min-1 VO2max ml.kg-1.min-1
1 5.89 67.70 5.89 43.42
2 4.37 67.23 4.61 70.92
3 4.07 63.59 4.20 67.45
4 4.07 56.52 5.73 79.58

Applied Physiology 5
5 2.90 41.42 3.10 48.03
6 4.32 54.00 3.33 40.60
7 4.93 56.67 2.42 28.24
8 3.33 48.20 4.01 51.32
9 3.11 50.16 3.21 52.49
10 4.58 50.33 4.90 55.71
11 3.94 56.29 2.50 54.30
12 3.32 56.72 3.74 57.92
13 3.10 51.66 1.64 27.40
14 4.91 70.14 2.07 29.59
15 3.19 45.70 2.03 29.00
16 5.02 76.21 2.23 33.76
Mean 4.07 57.03 3.48 48.11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
VO2max L.min-1
VO2max ml.kg-1.min-1
Fig. 1. Cycle ergometer maximum measurement graph

Applied Physiology 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
VO2max L.min-1
VO2max ml.kg-1.min-1
Fig. 2. Cycle ergometer astrand predicted graph
Females
Cycle
ergometer max
measurement
Cycle ergometer
astrand predicted
Female
(n=2)
VO2max
L.min-1
VO2max ml.kg-
1.min-1 VO2max L.min-1 VO2max ml.kg-1.min-1
1 2.37 29.60 2.41 32.83
2 2.29 43.20 1.12 21.96
3 2.20 31.42 2.59 34.75
4 4.57 84.63 3.68 68.33
5 4.11 66.20 4.00 62.50
6bb 3.83 58.92 3.81 34.20
7eg 2.89 45.00 2.52 36.09
9pb 1.33 20.90 1.89 29.76
10ak 2.44 37.50 1.46 22.46
11e 2.18 39.60 1.48 21.22
mean 2.82 45.70 2.50 36.41
Graphical representation of the obtained results are as follows:

Applied Physiology 7
Female (n=2) 1 2 3 4 5
6bb
7eg
9pb
10ak
11e
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Cycle ergometer max
measurement
Series2
Fig. 3. Cycle ergometer maximum measurement graph
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
Cycle ergometer astrand
predicted VO2max L.min-1
Cycle ergometer astrand
predicted VO2max ml.kg-
1.min-1
Fig. 4. Cycle ergometer astrand predicted graph
Figure 1 above illustrates the maximum ergometer readings for the test done on the males. As it
can be observed from the figure, the maximum oxygen consumption is approximately 76 ml.kg-
1.min-1 while the lowest is about 40 ml.kg-1.min-1. From the figure, it can as well be observed that
the maximum oxygen consumption does not have a common trend on sequence it follows. There

Applied Physiology 8
is no definite pattern to one point (Jackson, 2015, p.251). The amount shoots to high values and
gets lower at other points. Generally, the amount of oxygen pumped into the body of this athlete
keeps fluctuating.
Figure 2 illustrates the results of ergometer astrand prediction tests. This test is done in the
accomplishment of the sub-maximal test requirements. As again observable from the figure, the
highest amount of oxygen pumped around the body as per this test is approximately 80 ml.kg-
1.min-1 while the lowest oxygen pumped round the body stands at approximately 27 ml.kg-1.min-1.
From the two results obtained on the tests done on men, it is deducible that the margin in the
oxygen pumped around the body between the two tests is marginal (Heyward, 2014, p.389).
This thus means that both two tests are a reliable way of determining the fitness of the
cardiovascular system. Any of the two tests ill give relatively accurate results hence one can
choose to use either of the tasks to determine his cardiovascular fitness. Following the strenuous
nature of the maximal VO2 test and based on the results of the tests, an upper hand can be given
to the sub-maximal tests in the establishment of the cardiovascular system. Most of the men
posted results of the amount of oxygen pumped around the body for the two tests at above 50
ml.kg-1.min-1 with the margin not being very wide (Shields, 2011, p.415).
Figures 3 and 4 are illustrative of the results of the same test but in this case now in females.
Figure 3 shows the results of the maximum ergometer readings for the test. From the obtained
results, the highest amount of oxygen pumped around the body of the female who took part in
the experiment was about 84 ml.kg-1.min-1 whereas the least was 20 ml.kg-1.min-1. The margin
between the highest amount of oxygen pump and the least is very big and even the second largest
value is not anywhere close to the highest value. The second largest amount of oxygen pumped

Applied Physiology 9
around the body as illustrated in figure 3 is 66 ml.kg-1.min-1 (Harrast, 2011, p.188). This
difference could be attributed to lack of exercise among the other women. The woman with the
high fitness level might have been undergoing rigorous exercise and training that have allowed
the muscles of her cardiovascular system expand.
The expansion of the muscles makes them adaptive and thus able to withstand strain without
being fatigued very fast. The other women experienced fatigue too soon hence their
cardiovascular system was unable to pump blood around the body. This, in turn, led to less blood
flowing through their body.
Figure 4 is on predicted astrand ergometer results. Just like in the case of men, these results are a
reflection of the outcomes of the sub-maximal test. From the results posted in this test, the higher
amount of oxygen pumped around the body by the women’s group was at about 68 ml.kg-1.min-
1as compared to 21 ml.kg-1.min-1 which are the lowest amount pumped (Johnson, 2017, p.166). It
worth noting from these results that most of the women had an oxygen pumping volume at below
30 ml.kg-1.min-1. This is observed in quite a good number of the women. It is deducible from the
statistics that the level of fitness of the women is very low and hence their muscles are easily
fatigued thereby the low recorded oxygen volume.
The focus of this test is on the measurement of maximum oxygen consumption as-as measure of
cardiovascular fitness. Maximal oxygen consumption relies on the maximal ability of the body to
deliver oxygen. The more the oxygen is delivered, the healthier the heart and the lungs as these
are the only organs involved in this process. This means that the participants who recorded
higher maximal oxygen consumption values were, therefore, healthier and more sound health
than those who posted fewer values (Detry, 2012, p.218). Most of the men posted higher values

Applied Physiology 10
than the ladies hence a conclusion can be drawn that more men were healthy than ladies of those
who participated in the test. On the other hand, maximal oxygen consumption is a factor of the
maximal ability to extract oxygen. This means it helps in the determination of the ability of the
blood vessels of an individual to make blood available to the working muscles. It also provides a
hint on how much trained the skeletal muscles are.
From the above experiment, a conclusion can thus be made that men are generally having higher
maximal oxygen consumption than women (Armstrong, 2017, p.310). It can also be concluded
that the amount of oxygen pumped around the body is determined the level of aerobic training
that an individual has undergone. Aerobically trained individuals can the benefit of delayed
fatigue when engaging in an exercise of heavy workload to the muscles. The differences in the
maximal oxygen consumption between men and women as observed in the experiment can be
attributed to cardiorespiratory factors. These factors are among them the size of the heart and the
maximal cardiac output (Archer, 2009, p.105). Still, the difference can be due to the large fat
percentage characteristic of women than in men.
Conclusion
VO2 max testing can be used as one of the indicators of the capacity of an individual to endure.
The higher the VO2 max, the higher the ability of a person to maintain a high VO2 max
percentage when subjected to aerobic activity. Through VO2 max testing, the fitness of an athlete
can easily be assessed and the necessary adjustments depending on his condition can be planned.
Disparities in the VO2 max values between various groups of people are determined by various
factors some of which are natural while others can be controlled by the individuals themselves.

Applied Physiology 11
References
Archer, D., 2009. Practical Fitness Testing: Analysis in Exercise and Sport. 5th ed. New York:
A&C Black.
Armstrong, N., 2017. Oxford Textbook of Children's Sport and Exercise Medicine. 2nd ed.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ashok, D.C., 2008. Test Your Physical Fitness. 10th ed. Kansas: Gyan Publishing House.
Detry, J.M.R., 2012. Exercise Testing and Training in Coronary Heart Disease. 4th ed. Paris:
Springer Science & Business Media.
Harrast, M.A., 2011. Sports Medicine: Study Guide and Review for Boards. 11th ed. Manchester:
Demos Medical Publishing.
Heyward, V.H., 2014. Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription 7th Edition.
Heyward, Vivian H ed. New York: Human Kinetics.
Hoeger, S.A., 2012. Lifetime Physical Fitness and Wellness: A Personalized Program. 6th ed.
London: Cengage Learning.
Jackson, A.S., 2015. Measurement for Evaluation in Kinesiology. 4th ed. London: Jones &
Bartlett Publishers.
Johnson, G.O., 2017. Laboratory Manual for Exercise Physiology, Exercise Testing, and
Physical Fitness. 4th ed. Oxford: Taylor & Francis.
Medicine, A.C.o.S., 2013. ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer. 4th ed. Chicag0:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Applied Physiology 12
Narvani, A., 2014. Key Clinical Topics in Sports and Exercise Medicine. 9th ed. Oxford: JP
Medical Ltd.
Plowman, S.A., 2013. Exercise Physiology for Health Fitness and Performance. 4th ed. London:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Reilly, T., 2013. Kinanthropometry and Exercise Physiology Laboratory Manual: Tests,
Procedures and Data, Third Edition: Volume Two: Physiology. 4th ed. New York: Routledge.
Schwellnus, M.P., 2009. The Olympic Textbook of Medicine in Sport. 6th ed. Salt Lake: John
Wiley & Sons.
Shields, T.W., 2011. General Thoracic Surgery. 7th ed. Washington DC: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
White, R.D., 2009. Exercise Testing for Primary Care and Sports Medicine Physicians. 7th ed.
New York: Springer Science & Business Media.