May June 2024 - 40

2024 TECH GUIDE
OPTIMAL OXYGEN
How the VO2 Max test scores can correlate with athletic success
By KORR Medical Technologies
A
VO2 Max Test is a measurement that reflects a
person's ability to perform sustained exercise.
It is generally considered the best indicator of
cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. The actual
measurement is " milliliters of oxygen used in one minute
per kilogram of body weight. " It is suitable for a wide
range of individuals, from the sedentary to elite athletes.
VO2 Max is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption
that can be attained during the most intense exercise
possible. The measurement requires that the subject
breathe into an oxygen consumption analyzer during an
all-out effort (usually on a treadmill or bicycle) as part of a
graded exercise protocol. These protocols involve specific
increases in the speed and intensity of the exercise. While
exercising, the person wears a mask to collect all the air
he breathes in and out for a measurement of the volume
of exhaled gas and the concentration of oxygen in that
exhaled gas. This determines how much oxygen is used
during each minute of the exercise test.
A study from the Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical
Sciences explored the correlation between high VO2 Max
scores with competitive athletic success. They analyzed
the VO2 Max scores of soccer players, volleyball players,
and non-athletes and the study revealed that a " high level
of aerobic capacity is indispensable for achieving success
in many sports; therefore, the determination of VO2 Max
is of special importance as it plays the key role in
professional sports-it is the reflection of any
athlete's physical capability. "
This study analyzed a variety of teams within
each sport, including professional and amateur
teams. For every team in the study, VO2 Max
seemed to reflect a player's success
and rankings within a match. It was
also significant when comparing
teams in the same sport, where
professionals had statistically
higher VO2 Max values
compared to amateur players.
The study also showed
that football players had
higher VO2 Max scores
than volleyball players,
corresponding with the
higher degree of endurance
required for an " efficient
energetic system which
would support all 90 min
maintaining full strength. "
40 COACH & A.D. | MAY/JUNE 2024
Football players of the First Mexican Soccer League
emphasized the need to improve VO2 Max scores " in order
to achieve better results on the international level. "
It concludes that VO2 Max testing to assess the aerobic
capacity of players " provides the relevant data on the
health of players, planning, and follow-up of the training
effects, [and is also] useful for the early selection of
athletes. " It also states the importance of increasing VO2
Max values as an indicator of physical capabilities, labeling
it " indispensable for achieving the top sports results. "
A person's oxygen consumption rises in a linear
relationship with exercise intensity - up to a point. There
are specific physiological markers (AeT, AT) that can be
detected throughout the test as oxygen consumption
is measured. Eventually, oxygen consumption plateaus
even if the exercise intensity increases. When the person
is no longer able to keep up with the oxygen demands
of his muscles and complete fatigue forces him to stop
exercising, then his oxygen consumption has reached a
maximum, and VO2 Max can be calculated. The test usually
takes between 10 and 15 minutes.
Representatives from KORR Medical Technologies
recently took part in Coach & Athletic Director's Tech
Time on-demand web series to discuss how coaches can
incorporate VO2 Max testing into their athletic programs.
To view that discussion with KORR Medical Technologies,
visit coachad.com/techtime.
http://www.coachad.com/techtime
May June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May June 2024
