VO2 Max is a criterion used to determine an athlete’s ability to perform extreme work outs. VO2 max refers to the level at which an individual consumes the highest amount of oxygen during an intensive work out. The measurements are usual taken in milliliters of oxygen consumed per minute per kilogram of total weight of the body. This measurement normally is one of the main norms to measure aerobic power and cardiovascular fitness in athletes. The more the oxygen used by the performer, the more energy he/she produces. The best athletes come with elevated or extremely high levels of VO2 max values.
The measurement of VO2 max values is usually done with the help of a standard procedure in a sports lab, usually on a treadmill or a stationary bicycle. These procedures involve specific speeds and intensities of exercise and simultaneous collection and also measurement of the oxygen concentration and the volume of exhaled and inhaled air. Oxygen and carbon dioxide analyzers fitted on the treadmills can be used and the expired air may be collected with the help of Douglas bags, a Tissot tank, a pneumotach, or a turbine ventilator. These instruments measure the athlete’s oxygen intake.
The oxygen consumption usually rises in a direct relationship with intensity of exercise up to a certain point. After that period, even if there is an increase in the intensity of exercise the oxygen intake would continue to be stable. This stage is referred to as VO2 max. Exactly at this point, the athlete shifts from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. From this stage, pain due to fatigue is not far, which forces the athlete to stop exercising. This test lasts for a short duration of 10 to 15 minutes, but those few minutes can be grueling as the performer is expected to endure the pain to the hilt to measure his/her actual VO2 max.
In spite of VO2 being a genetic component, it can be enhanced through persistent training done in the right intensity. Beginners are known to boost their VO2 max up to 20 percent as compared to individuals with existent high VO2 values. It has also been observed that the elite class of athletes are already close to the genetic potential and have little to work on.
It is observed that generally females have 20% lower VO2 max compared to men due to differences in the body composition, size, hemoglobin content, and whole blood volume, though this criterion is reversed in the case of elite female athletes. VO2 max varies with age. The levels are highest in the 20s and then gradually decreases. This can be maintained to some extent by regular exercise.
The VO2 max value determines an athlete’s potential to perform well. These values vary significantly with different group of people. A normal sedentary human has a VO2 max value of around 35 ml/kg/min. A potential athlete averages around 70 ml/kg/min. The highest VO2 max value recorded so far is about 90ml/kg/min and is of a cross country skier.