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V˙O2 plateau in treadmill exercise is not dependent on anaerobic capacity

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Abstract

Introduction

A plateau in oxygen consumption (V˙O2 plateau) remains the definitive criteria for establishing that maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O2max) was achieved during maximal exercise despite its inconsistent presence. Anaerobic capacity may assist in achieving a V˙O2 plateau.

Purposes

To determine if a correlation exists between maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) and magnitude of V˙O2 plateau during treadmill exercise.

Methods

Participants completed submaximal, maximal, and supramaximal exercise treadmill tests on separate occasions. MAOD was determined during the supramaximal test by calculating the difference between oxygen consumption (V˙O2) and predicted V˙O2 based on extrapolation of submaximal data. V˙O2 plateau was determined as a < 50 ml change in V˙O2 over the last 60 s of exercise.

Results

Ten of seventeen participants showed a plateau in V˙O2. Oxygen deficit was not different between the plateau and non-plateau groups (44.2 ± 10.8 vs. 44.8 ± 8.5 ml·kg−1, p = 0.906). Oxygen deficit was not correlated with change in V˙O2 (r = − 0.087, p = 0.739). Aerobic training hours·week−1 were higher in the plateau group than non-plateau (4.8 ± 1.5 vs. 1.7 ± 2.1, p = 0.003) and correlated with change in V˙O2 (r = − 0.418, p = 0.048).

Conclusions

In treadmill running, there is not a significant correlation between V˙O2 plateau and MAOD as has been seen in cycling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health, Northern Kentucky University, 100 Nunn Dr., Highland Heights, KY, 41099, USA

    Cory M. Scheadler

  2. Department of Human Performance and Health Education, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA

    Nicholas J. Hanson

Authors
  1. Cory M. Scheadler
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  2. Nicholas J. Hanson
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Correspondence to Cory M. Scheadler.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Scheadler, C.M., Hanson, N.J. V˙O2 plateau in treadmill exercise is not dependent on anaerobic capacity. Sport Sci Health 14, 415–420 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-018-0457-y

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