Commentaries on Viewpoint: Using V̇o_2max as a marker of training status in athletes – can we do better?

Abstract

TO THE EDITOR: Podlogar et al. ( 1) have nicely discussed current methods for classifying athletes in applied physiology studies attending to their training or performance level. We agree with them that relying on a single physiological marker such as maximum oxygen uptake is not without limitations and endorse the use of more performance-based indicators. However, before proposing critical power/speed (CP/ CS) as the primary indicator of an athlete's training status, the robustness of these variables and the best method for their determination remains to be confirmed. Differences in mathematical models or test durations can indeed have a remarkable impact on an individual's CP/CS (e.g., up to $1 km/ h for CS in top-level runners) (2).More research is needed to provide reference or "normative" values of CP/CS allowing classification of athletes into different performance/fitness categories. An alternative, at least in cycling, might be classifying athletes attending to the highest power output that they can achieve for a given duration-the so-called "mean maximum power" (MMP) (3). This approach does not require the use of mathematical calculations or additional laboratory testing and is sensitive enough to allow discerning actual performance even between the two highest category levels-Union Cycliste Internationale [UCI] ProTeam versus UCI WorldTour-in professional cyclists (4). We have recently reported normative MMP values for male (n = 144) (4) and female professional cyclists (n = 44) (5). If a similar approach was used in cyclists of a lower training/competition level, scientists and coaches could accurately classify participants in cycling physiology studies.

Increase of VO2 max After 8 Weeks Tuja Shuttle Run Exercise for Athletes in the 14-17 Year Age Group

“…The quantification of VO 2 max is a critical indicator of cardiovascular fitness and athletic performance, yet its role in predicting sports success is contested within the literature. While higher VO 2 max levels are often associated with superior athletic performance (Lee & Zhang, 2021;Taufik et al, 2021;Pedro L. Valenzuela et al, 2022;Tasew & Getnet Tasew, 2020), other studies suggest that VO 2 max is not the sole determinant of athletic prowess (Wiecha et al, 2023), indicating the need for a more nuanced understanding of its implications for athlete training. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been identified as an effective method to enhance VO 2 max, with varying degrees of efficacy reported across different populations and training protocols (Festiawan et al, 2021;Marterer et al, 2020;Eken & Emin Kafkas, 2022).…”

Last Word on Viewpoint: Using V̇o2max as a marker of training status in athletes–can we do better?

“…First, we would like to thank our peers for sharing their views ( 1 ) on our Viewpoint ( 2 ). There appears to be some consensus that V̇ o 2max as such is an insufficient descriptor of the training status.…”