A study of maximal oxygen consumption in Chinese males
Ho, B.L.
Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 55(3): 222-225
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-6562 PMID: 6721810 Document Number: 227715
The physiological response to maximum treadmill exercise was evaluated using the Chinese Air Force protocol (a constant speed of 5.6 kmph with a 5% increase in grade every 3 min) in 202 healthy men 30 to 57 years old. Their mean maximum exercise duration is 15.2 min. Maximum heart rate and maximum oxygen consumption are 181 beats/min and 40.4 ml/kg min, respectively. The study showed that ageing had a prominent influence on maximum heart rate and maximum diastolic pressure but not on systolic pressure. There are 2 main influences on max VO2, age and habitual physical activity. Activity had a more significant effect than age. Maximum oxygen consumption was less in sedentary than in physically active persons and diminished with age. It had a high correlation with duration of exercise by that standardized protocol. Accordingly by regression equations, average normal values from healthy persons could be predicted from activity and age; values expected on testing could be estimated from duration of exercise.