Factors affecting V02 max

Question 1

what are the factors affecting V02 max

Answer 1

• physiological
• training
• genetics
• age
• gender
• body composition
• lifestyle

Question 2

physiological

Answer 2

• increased max cardiac output = allows more oxygen to be delivered to the working muscles
• increased stroke volume/ cardiac hypertrophy/ejection fraction = allows greater volumes of blood to be pumped out of the heart with each beat
• increased stores of glycogen and triglycerides = allows depletion of glycogen stores to occur at a later point
• increased RBC count = allows more oxygen to be delivered to the working muscles
• increased lactate tolerance (buffer) = which will allow a higher intensity of exercise to be maintained
• increased myoglobin content
• increased surface area of alveoli

Question 3

gender

Answer 3

men have approx 20% higher V02 max than women

Question 4

training

Answer 4

V02 max improved by 10-20% following aerobic training (continuous, fartlek, interval)

Question 5

genetics

Answer 5

• inherited factors of physiology limit possible improvement

Question 6

age

Answer 6

as age increases our V02 max declines as body systems become less efficient

Question 7

body composition

Answer 7

• higher percentage of body fat decreases V02 max

Question 8

lifestyle

Answer 8

smoking, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet reduces V02 max