In aerobic work, oxygen is obtained from the air and is transferred from the lungs to the blood and then to the muscles via the circulatory system. Vo 2 max is determined by the measurement of oxygen uptake during the performance of maximal work, typically while running on a treadmill or while cycling. This is done by exercising for at least 12-minutes at submaximal loads, after which the maximal effort is performed for one or two minutes. Oxygen uptake during this time is measured, giving the value of Vo 2 max. As Vo 2 max increases, the level of aerobic fitness also increases.
Aerobic fitness is dependent upon age and sex and it can be improved by training.
In general, males have higher Vo 2 max than females. The main reason for this is that aerobic fitness is directly related to fat-free body weight, which consists mainly of the weight of muscles in the body, and on the average, males have a higher muscle mass than females. As with other physiological functions, there are large individual differences in Vo 2 max of people of the same sex and age. Some people show high Vo 2 max without exercising because of genetic and other factors, while other people who exercise regularly do not show high Vo 2 max . Credits Copyright 1999 VividSoft .