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Correlations between physical activity index score and oxygen uptake (VO 2 ). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0064319.g003
Source publication
To provide a large reference material on aerobic fitness and exercise physiology data in a healthy population of Norwegian men and women aged 20-90 years.
Maximal and sub maximal levels of VO2, heart rate, oxygen pulse, and rating of perceived exertion (Borg scale: 6-20) were measured in 1929 men and 1881 women during treadmill running.
The highest...
Context in source publication
Citations
... differences in the capacity for O 2 transport between sexes. 1,7,8 For example, women tend to have smaller left ventricular mass (25%-38%) in comparison to men, which is consistent with smaller dimensions and wall thickness. 9 This difference may be due to discrepancies in body size, hormone levels, and hypertrophy of myocytes. ...
... These protocols also have different intensities, interval and recovery durations, as well as exercise volume which may make comparisons across protocols challenging. Third, men typically have a higher VO 2max than women due to a higher absolute SV and CO, 8 so different results could occur if men had a higher VO 2max than women. In addition, treadmill exercise elicits true maximal CO and VO 2 versus cycling, so our data only apply to this mode of exercise. ...
Sex differences in the cardiorespiratory and hemodynamic response to exercise exist due to differences in heart size, blood volume, and hemoglobin mass, eliciting higher maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in men versus women. Data are equivocal whether sex differences in training responsiveness occur. This study investigated potential sex differences in the hemodynamic response (stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO)) to high‐intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Habitually active men (n = 15) and women (n = 13) underwent VO2max testing, followed by three HIIE sessions consisting of the 4 × 4, 10 × 1, and reduced exertion high‐intensity training (REHIT), whose order was randomized. During exercise, oxygen uptake (VO2) and hemodynamic responses were determined. Results showed no sex difference in peak relative VO2 (p = 0.263), CO (p = 0.277), or SV (p = 0.116), although absolute values were higher in men (p < 0.05). Peak absolute (127.3 ± 20.6 vs. 115.2 ± 16.6 mL/beat, p = 0.004, d = 0.66) and relative SV (111.0 ± 15.5 vs. 100.7 ± 11.1% max, p = 0.005, d = 0.78) were higher with REHIT versus 4 × 4. No sex differences in mean relative VO2, CO, or SV occurred (p > 0.05). Data showed lower mean VO2 during REHIT versus 4 × 4 (59.3 ± 6.8 vs. 65.8 ± 5.8 %VO2max, p < 0.001, d = 1.05) and 10 × 1 (59.3 ± 6.8 vs. 69.1 ± 7.4 %VO2max, p < 0.001, d = 1.4). Mean CO was lower in REHIT than 10 × 1 (79.8 ± 8.6 vs. 84.0 ± 7.4% max, p = 0.012, d = 0.53). Previously reported differences in VO2max response to HIIE may not be due to unique hemodynamic responses.
... Mean 3-mile run times in this cohort equate to aerobic capacities of 54.2 ± 3.5 and 45.5 ± 1.9 mL/kg/min for men and women, based on an adapted calculation by Mello et al. (1988). These values match the mean aerobic capacity of a large sampling of fit young (20-29 years old) Norwegian men and women, with mean values of 54 and 43 mL/kg/ min, respectively (Loe et al., 2013). ...
... Secular trends to increased adiposity and sedentary behavior in the general population might be expected to mask an underlying biologically appropriate constant present in normal physically active young men and women at the apex of their physical development trajectory. This group had normal physical fitness based on aerobic capacity equivalent to a contemporary sample of young healthy and fit Norwegians (Loe et al., 2013). Physical training of specialized athletes would also not be expected to reflect typically normal musculoskeletal maturation but, in fact, represent super selected and trained physical characteristics appropriate to the event or sport (Fleck, 1983;Norton & Olds, 2001). ...
Objective:
Determine if relative body fat (%BF) remains a biological norm in physically active, non-obese American men and women and determine reference values for other components of body composition.
Methods:
Participants (n = 174 men, 70 women) were physically fit U.S. Marine 2nd Lieutenants, in their third decade of physical maturity (age 21-30). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA); and body images were obtained by 3D body scans.
Results:
For men and women, respectively, %BF averaged 16.2 ± 4.1 (median 15.3), 24.3 ± 4.5 (median 23.8); fat-free mass (FFM): 67.7 ± 7.2, 49.4 ± 5.3 kg; FFM index: 21.5 ± 1.8, 18.3 ± 1.6 kg/m2 ; and body mass index (BMI): 25.5 ± 1.9, 24.1 ± 2.2 kg/m2 . Bone mineral content (BMC) was 5% of FFM; total body water (TBW) was 70%-72% of FFM. Physique remained similar between median and higher percentiles of %BF. Only small changes in key measures were noted across the six-month training program.
Conclusions:
Mean %BF of healthy active men and women in 2021 remains very similar to the 15% and 25% posited in 1980, suggesting that relative body fat has a normal fat-lean relationship in physically mature humans. These data may bring new attention to sex-appropriate %BF.
... The present study is a prospective FU study of early manifestation of cardiovascular disease in industry in which both shift workers and day workers (controls) participate. In the spring and summer 2018, we invited 172 workers, at two insulation material plants in At BL, VȮ 2max values were within what is considered normal for a comparable Norwegian healthy population [11] or even exceeding that of other Europeans [12]. In the present population, the annual reduction in VȮ 2max was 4.6%, which is not solely attributable to aging, as the general decline in VȮ 2max , suggests an annual loss of only 0.5-1% [13,14]. ...
... The group of workers in the present study may not represent the general Norwegian population. However, VȮ 2max at BL was in line with what is considered normal for a corresponding general population sample [11]. Furthermore, leisure-time MVPA was not measured objectively, which is a limitation since self-reported physical activity can introduce response bias or even misclassi cation and seems to be overestimated [28]. ...
Purpose: This study aimed to determine if maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), resting heart rate (RHR), and self-reported leisure- time moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) changed over a 3-year follow-up (FU) among industrial workers during restrictions of outdoor movement and the concurrent closure of fitness centres due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: We assessed cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among workers in industry in August 2018 and in August 2021. The last 17-18 months of the 3-year FU coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 86 participants were collected; demographics by questionnaire and cardiovascular outcomes from medical examination: V̇O2max, RHR, and fat mass (%). At both time points, workers reported on their leisure-time MVPA. To assess changes in health outcomes, we applied a linear mixed model, adjusting for baseline (BL) age, sex, pack-years, shift work, and a 5-month plant shutdown. In a second analysis, we adjusted for actual age instead of BL age.
Results: V̇O2max decreased from 39.6 ml/kg/min at BL to 34.0 at FU, a reduction of 5.6 ml/kg/min (95%CI, -7.6,-3.7). When adjusted for actual age, the corresponding figure for V̇O2max was 5.4 ml/kg/min, (95%CI, -7.4,-3.4), an annual loss of 4.6%. RHR increased from 61.3 to 64.4 beats per minute (95%CI, 0.8, 5.4). Self-reported MVPA decreased by 43.9 min/week, (95%CI, -73.5,-14.4).
Conclusion: We observed a significant decrease in V̇O2max, an increase in RHR and a decrease in self-reported MVPA over the 3-year FU among industrial workers. These changes may be attributable to physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ISRCTN42416837, date of registration 25.10.2018
... Systemic variables such as ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate concentration (La) are frequently used to obtain thresholds [3]. Also, to assess submaximal and maximal cardiorespiratory fitness, these thresholds, as well as maximal values, such as power output (P max ) or oxygen uptake (VO 2max ), are commonly determined using incremental cycle ergometer [5][6][7] or running exercise [8][9][10]. A threshold-based prescription of exercise intensity provides valuable information for healthy subjects, athletes, or patients in order to optimize the training process and to provoke intensity-and volume-specific effects on performance [11], prevention [12], or chronic diseases [13]. ...
Accelerometer cut-points are commonly used to prescribe the amount of physical activity, but this approach includes no individual performance measures. As running kinetics change with intensity, acceleration measurements may provide more individual information. Therefore, the aim was to determine two intensity thresholds from accelerometer measures. A total of 33 participants performed a maximal incremental running test with spirometric and acceleration (Axivity AX3) measures at the left and right tibia. Ventilatory equivalents (VE/VO2, VE/VCO2) were used to determine a first and second ventilatory threshold (VT1/VT2). A first and second accelerometer threshold (ACT1/ACT2) were determined within the same regions of interest from vector magnitude (|v| = √(ax2 + ay2 + az2). Accelerometer data from the tibia presented a three-phase increase with increasing speed. Speed at VT1/VT2 (7.82 ± 0.39/10.91 ± 0.87 km/h) was slightly but significantly lower compared to the speed at ACT1/ACT2 from the left (7.71 ± 0.35/10.62 ± 0.72 km/h) and right leg (7.79 ± 0.33/10.74 ± 0.77 km/h). Correlation analysis revealed a strong relationship between speed at thresholds determined from spriometric data or accelerations (r = 0.98; p < 0.001). It is therefore possible to determine accelerometer thresholds from tibia placement during a maximal incremental running test comparable to standard ventilatory thresholds.
... In Equation 3 and Figure 1, the line for women was higher than for men. This might be due to systematic differences in maximal aerobic capacity (Loe et al., 2013) and the fact that work-driven T c (those in the prescriptive zone) is better explained as a percent of maximal aerobic capacity (Saltin & Hermansen, 1966). ...
... When the maximal aerobic capacity is not known, the relationships described in this paper provide values at the ULPZ for healthy, hydrated individuals regardless of acclimatization state. Because the MRs were expressed in absolute terms, the women as a group were working at a higher percent of their maximal aerobic capacity (Loe et al., 2013) and thus had higher values of T c compared to men. ...
The expressed goal of limiting workplace heat stress exposures to a core temperature (Tc ) of 38°C traces back to a 1969 World Health Organization Technical Report (WHO Series 412). The actual goal was to limit exposures to the upper limit of the prescriptive zone (ULPZ). To explore the physiological strain at the ULPZ, progressive heat stress protocol data from Penn State University (PSU) and University of South Florida (USF) below and at the ULPZ were used to articulate the relation of Tc and heart rate (HR) to metabolic rate (MR) with consideration of acclimatization state, clothing, exposure condition (PreULPZ vs. ULPZ), and sex. Regression models demonstrated the association of MR and sex with Tc and HR. At the ULPZ, women had systematically higher values of Tc and HR than men at the same MR likely due to higher relative demands. There was no effect for acclimatization state and clothing. As expected for individuals, Tc was practically constant below the ULPZ and HR exhibited increasing values approaching the ULPZ. At 490 W, the high MR cited in the WHO document, the mean Tc for men was near the 38°C limit with systematically lower Tc at lower MRs.
... To achieve this, athletes require a welldeveloped VO 2 max for adequate energy resynthesis within and between rounds (Bridge et al., 2014;Ovretveit, 2018). VO 2 max displays a progressive decline with increased age including a marked loss in maximal capacity between the age brackets of 20-29 to 30-39 (Loe et al., 2013). As such, older athletes may fatigue earlier in a bout than younger opponents causing further decrements to their RFD and reaction times. ...
Athlete stature and armspan is anecdotally assumed to provide an advantage in mixed martial arts (MMA), despite an absence of supporting data. In contrast, winners of MMA bouts have been shown to be younger than bouts losers. Whilst absolute measurements of stature, armspan and armspan:stature scale (A:S) have been shown to not distinguish between winners and losers of MMA bouts, relative differences between competitors have not been analysed. This study aimed to analyse 5 years of athlete age and morphological data to replicate and expand previous studies to determine whether absolute and/or relative age and morphological variables effect winning and losing in MMA. Bayes factor (BF>3) inferential analyses conducted on the cohort overall (n=2,229 professional bouts), each year sampled and each individual body mass division found that only absolute (winners = 29.8±4 years; losers = 30.7±4.2 years) and relative age (winners=0.82±5.3 years younger than losers) differentiates between winners and losers across the whole cohort, in 4 of the 5 years, and in 4 of the 13 divisions sampled. Armspan appears to provide an advantage in heavyweight only (winners = 198.4±6.6cm; losers = 196.1±7.7cm), with greater A:S being a disadvantage (winners = 1.003±0.022cm∙cm-1; losers = 1.010±0.023 cm∙cm-1) in women’s strawweight only. No variables had any effect on how bouts were won. These results confirm previous reports that the effect of athlete morphology is greatly overstated in MMA, appearing to be irrelevant in most divisions. Bout winners tend to be younger than losers, particularly in divisions displaying more diverse skill requirements.
... The maximal RPE values, i.e., the values of perceived exertion stated at peak performance, did neither differ between sexes nor trained and untrained groups. This observation is supported by previous findings for training status (Hill et al., 1987) or sex (Loe et al., 2013). These results come not as a surprise since each individual was at their individual peak performance. ...
Introduction: Mechanic power output (MPO) and oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) reflect endurance capacity and are often stated relative to body mass (BM) but less often per skeletal muscle mass (SMM). Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) has previously shown conflicting results between sexes at submaximal intensities. Individual body composition, however, largely differs due to sex and training status. It was the aim of this study to evaluate RPE of untrained and trained individuals of both sexes considering body composition and to estimate whether RPE could be improved as a tool to determine endurance capacity.
Methods: The study included 34 untrained adults (age 26.18 ± 6.34 years, 18 women) and 29 endurance trained (age 27.86 ± 5.19, 14 women) who were measured for body composition (InBody 770, InBody Europe B.V., Germany) and tested on a treadmill (Pulsar, H/P/Cosmos, Germany) for aerobic capacity (Metalyzer 3B, Cortex Biophysik GmbH, Germany) in an all-out exercise test applying the Bruce-protocol. VO 2 , MPO, heart rate (HR), and RPE were obtained at each exercise stage. VO 2 and MPO were calculated per BM and SMM. RPE values were correlated with absolute VO 2 and MPO, as well as relative to BM, and SMM. HR values and the parameters’ standardized values served for comparison to standard procedures.
Results: VO 2 and MPO were higher in men compared to women and in trained compared to untrained participants. No differences between groups and sexes exist when VO 2 and MPO were calculated per BM. When calculated per SMM, VO 2 and MPO indicate opposite results already at low intensity stages of exercise test. RPE values had highest correlation with MPO per SMM (R ² = 0.8345) compared to absolute MPO (R ² = 0.7609), or MPO per BM (R ² = 0.8176). Agreement between RPE and MPO per SMM was greater than between RPE and HR ( p = 0.008).
Conclusion: Although RPE represents a subjective value at first glance, it was shown that RPE constitutes a valuable tool to estimate endurance capacity, which can be further enhanced if individual body composition is considered. Furthermore, MPO and VO 2 should be considered relative to SMM. These findings might help to avoid over-exertion, especially among untrained people, by adjusting the training intensity for each subject according to the individual strain evaluated in an exercise test based on individual body composition.
... As expected, maximal V_O 2 and HR were the highest in the youngest age groups in men and women and declined with increasing age. Mean values as well as the age dependent decline were comparable to maximal treadmill reference data from 3,816 healthy men and women published by Loe et al. (2013). Additionally, mean relative values at VT 1 and VT 2 for HR and VO 2 were consistent with the results of other studies (Vucetic et al., 2014;Vainshelboim et al., 2020). ...
Introduction: The heart rate performance curve (HRPC) in maximal incremental cycle ergometer exercise demonstrated three different patterns such as downward, linear or inverse versions. The downward pattern was found to be the most common and therefore termed regular. These patterns were shown to differently influence exercise prescription, but no data are available for running. This study investigated the deflection of the HRPC in maximal graded treadmill tests (GXT) of the 4HAIE study.
Methods: Additional to maximal values, the first and second ventilatory thresholds as well as the degree and the direction of the HRPC deflection (k HR ) were determined from 1,100 individuals (489 women) GXTs. HRPC deflection was categorized as downward (k HR < −0.1), linear (−0.1 ≤ k HR ≤ 0.1) or inverse (k HR > 0.1) curves. Four (even split) age- and two (median split) performance-groups were used to investigate the effects of age and performance on the distribution of regular (= downward deflection) and non-regular (= linear or inverse course) HR curves for male and female subjects.
Results: Men (age: 36.8 ± 11.9 years, BMI: 25.0 ± 3.3 kg m ⁻² , VO 2max : 46.4 ± 9.4 mL min ⁻¹ . kg ⁻¹ ) and women (age: 36.2 ± 11.9 years, BMI: 23.3 ± 3.7 kg m ⁻² , VO 2max : 37.4 ± 7.8 mL min ⁻¹ . kg ⁻¹ ) presented 556/449 (91/92%) downward deflecting, 10/8 (2/2%) linear and 45/32 (7/6%) inverse HRPC´s. Chi-squared analysis revealed a significantly higher number of non-regular HRPC´s in the low-performance group and with increasing age. Binary logistic regression revealed that the odds ratio (OR) to show a non-regular HRPC is significantly affected by maximum performance (OR = 0.840, 95% CI = 0.754–0.936, p = 0.002) and age (OR = 1.042, 95% CI = 1.020–1.064, p < 0.001) but not sex.
Discussion: As in cycle ergometer exercise, three different patterns for the HRPC were identified from the maximal graded treadmill exercise with the highest frequency of regular downward deflecting curves. Older subjects and subjects with a lower performance level had a higher probability to show a non-regular linear or inverted curve which needs to be considered for exercise prescription.
... The assumption of normally distributed variables was checked by visual inspection of histogram, boxplot, and Q-Q-plots of standardised residuals. As physical fitness differs between women and men 35,36 , we performed separate analyses by sex. Differences in physical fitness between groups were adjusted for height as a potential mediating factor in a univariate general linear model, since height has been consistently correlated with both being born SGA 4,12,37 and physical fitness in previous literature 22 . ...
There is lack of research on body composition and physical fitness in individuals born small for gestational age (SGA) at term entering mid-adulthood. We aimed to investigate these outcomes in adults born SGA at term. This population-based cohort study included 46 adults born SGA with birth weight < 10th percentile at term (gestational age ≥ 37 weeks) (22 women, 24 men) and 61 adults born at term with birth weight ≥ 10th percentile (35 women, 26 men) at 32 years. Body composition was examined anthropometrically and by 8-polar bioelectrical impedance analysis (Seca® mBCA 515). Fitness was measured by maximal isometric grip strength by a Jamar hand dynamometer, 40-s modified push-up test and 4-min submaximal step test. Participants born SGA were shorter than controls, but other anthropometric measures did not differ between the groups. Men born SGA had 4.8 kg lower grip strength in both dominant (95% CI 0.6 to 9.0) and non-dominant (95% CI 0.4 to 9.2) hand compared with controls. Grip strength differences were partly mediated by height. In conclusion, body composition and physical fitness were similar in adults born SGA and non-SGA at term. Our finding of reduced grip strength in men born SGA may warrant further investigation.
... Due to cross-over in V O 2peak values between groups, this approach was taken to create two distinct groups within the study. Age predicted V O 2peak levels for each participant were calculated based on a large database of aerobic capacity reference data of healthy individuals aged 20 -90 years (Loe et al. 2013), and a similar approach to create distinct study groups has been used previously in a cohort of middle-aged and older females (Brown et al. 2010). An 80% threshold was chosen as healthy exercise trained and untrained older adults within a recent study investigating CCA PCS and PSR exhibited V O 2peak levels below and above 80% of their age predicted V O 2peak , respectively (Talbot et al. 2020). ...
... Coefficient of variation for the determination of V O 2peak in our laboratory is < 3.0%. Subsequently measured V O 2peak was assessed as a proportion of age predicted V O 2peak (Loe et al. 2013). ...
Purpose
Aging females are at risk of declining vascular and cognitive function. Exercise can augment both factors independently; however, the influence of exercise on their interdependence is less clearly understood. Ultrasound speckle tracking is a sensitive novel measure of arterial aging but has not previously been used in middle-aged females. We aimed to elucidate the potential interactions between vascular and cognitive variables in active aging females.
Methods
Twelve active (56 ± 5 years; $${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{O}}_{2\mathrm{peak}}$$ V ˙ O 2 peak : 34.5 ± 6.1 ml.kg.min ⁻¹ ) and 13 inactive (57 ± 4 years; 22.8 ± 2.6 ml.kg.min ⁻¹ ) healthy middle-aged females were included. Ultrasound speckle tracking assessed short-axis common carotid artery (CCA) compliance via peak circumferential strain (PCS) and strain rate (PSR) at rest, during, and after 3-min isometric handgrip exercise. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was assessed using ultrasound. Cognitive function was measured using Verbal Fluency, Trail Making, Stroop, and Digit Span tests.
Results
PCS ( P = 0.003) and PSR ( P = 0.004), were higher in the active cohort. FMD was similar between groups ( P > 0.05). Minimal differences in cognitive function existed between groups, although the inactive group performed better in one test of animal Verbal Fluency ( P < 0.01). No associations were observed between PCS, PSR, or FMD with cognitive function (all P > 0.05).
Conclusion
This is the first study to assess PCS and PSR in middle-aged females and demonstrates that active middle-aged females exhibit a superior carotid artery profile compared to their inactive counterparts. However, PCS and PSR of the carotid artery may not be linked with cognitive function in middle-aged females.
