A correlational analysis of maximal oxygen uptake and anaerobic threshold as compared with middle and long distance performances.
- Author:
KIYOJI TANAKA
;
YOSHIYUKI MATSUURA
;
TOSHIO MORITANI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
1981;30(2):94-102
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Various studies have reported on VO2max differences in men, with or without respect to distance run performances, and demonstrated that VO2max was the most important factor in endurance work capacity. This study was undertaken to reveal whether VO2max would still be the best determinant of endurance work capacity (or distance run performances), comparing it with AT parameters using the technique of correlational analyses. Twenty-seven distance runners, 16-26 years of age including an Olympic runner, underwent a multistage-incremental treadmill test for the assessment of submaximal and maximal work capacity. ATs were subjectively evaluated and determined as the point of breakaway of gas exchange criterion parameters according to Davis et al.'s method, and also referring to Wasserman et al.'s method.
The mean VO2max was 4.518 l/mmn (70.1 ml/kg⋅BW/min, 78.1 ml/kg . LBM/min), whilst the mean AT appeared to be 3.444 l/mmn (52.8 ml/kg/min, 75.60% of VO2max) . These results are in good agreement with previous results reported by others. Interestingly, all distance performances (i.e., 1-mile, 2-mile, and 3-mile) correlated highest with AT (ml/kg/min), secondly with exhaustion time, and thirdly with either VO2max or another AT parameter. AT (ml/kg/min) alone accounted for approximately 510, 73%, and 80% of the variance in the 1-mile, 2-mile, and 3-mile performances, respectively.
Since absolute VO2max is known to be a function of body size (e.g., body weight), an attempt was made to evaluate the relationships between the metabolic parameters and the distance performances through partial correlations holding the influence of body weight or LBM statistically constant. As a result, the correlation of VO2max (1/mm) with the 3-mile performance increased considerably to rp=-0.781 ; however, the degree of the relationship was not greater than the zero-order correlation (r=-0.896) obtained between AT (ml/kg/min) and the performance. Furthermore, when entered into a forward selection multiple regression with the 3-mile performance as the dependent variable, AT (l/min) accounted for only an additional 0.8% of the variance. VO2max (l/min), true % 02, % body fat body weight, VO2max (ml/kg/min), and vital capacity also accounted for only an additional 0.1%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.8%, 1.8%, and 1.8% of the variance, respectively. These data indicate that, considering the sample studied and limitations within this study, AT (ml/kg/min) could be the most significant determinant of the 3-mile run performance and, though to a lesser extent, the 2-mil eand 1-mile run performances.
