The peak oxygen uptake of British children with reference to age, sex and sexual maturity

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to provide baseline data on the peak oxygen consumption (VO2) of British children, aged 11-16 years and to examine the peak VO2 of children in relation to their pubertal stage of development. The peak VO2 of 226 boys and 194 girls was determined during either treadmill running or cycle ergometry. The sexual maturity of 320 of the children was estimated using Tanner's indices. Peak VO2 increased with chronological age in both sexes and from about the age of 12 years boys exhibited significantly higher (P less than 0.05) values than girls. Boys' peak VO2 in relation to body mass was consistent over the age range studied and was superior (P less than 0.05) to girls' values at all ages. It appears that mass-related peak VO2 is independent of sexual maturity in both sexes. The more mature boys demonstrated a significantly higher (P less than 0.05) peak VO2 (1.min-1) than the less mature boys on both ergometers. The more mature girls demonstrated significantly higher (P less than 0.05) peak VO2 (1.min-1) than the less mature girls only on the cycle ergometer. On both ergometers the differences between the peak VO2 of the girls and boys were more pronounced in the mature children whether expressed in relation to body mass or not. Comparison of the results with earlier data drawn from smaller samples failed to provide evidence to suggest that British children's peak VO2 has declined in recent years. No study with which to compare our maturity peak VO2 data appears to be available.

A meta-analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in pre-pubertal healthy children produces new information

“…[56][57][58][59][60] Reports also point out that a cycle ergometer test may require an average of 10 additional minutes to achieve maximal effort than tests on treadmills, 61 because (i) subjects on the cycle ergometer have an inability to keep up with their performance; [61][62][63] (ii) a greater activation of MedicalExpress (Sao Paulo, online) 2016 February;3(1):M160102 Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in healthy children Tavares AC large amounts of muscle mass occurs during a treadmill test; 58,59,61 (iii) more discomfort in the thigh muscles occurs during the cycle ergometer test; (iv) less intensity of effort and protocol duration to maximize aerobic energy transfer is achieved on the cycle ergometer. 57,59,61 The 18-20% differences on peak VO 2 values found in this analysis were similar to the 22% difference reported elsewhere; 61 however, smaller differences have also been reported: 7%, 61 8%, 24,64 or 12% higher on a treadmill.…”

“…[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] Among all included trials, 12 studies (60%) used the Tanner-Whitehouse evaluation scale to analyze children's maturation. 20 One study chose the Weber method, 21 whereas one identified the sample as pre-menarchal and therefore this analysis considered the population as prepubertal.…”

“…Only one trial compared cardiopulmonary values between both types of ergometers. 24 All trials mentioned the criteria used to evaluate the maximal testing level. Sixteen trials [21][22][23][24][25][38][39] chose more than one of the following methods for maximal CPX consideration: (i): exhaustion in 17 trials (85%); (ii) very…”

“…Although two trials studied both ergometers, 24,64 only one of them had a paired evaluation, showing no differences between ergometers. 64 The reason for the discrepancies between findings in this analysis and the findings of the earlier studies is unclear because the collected tests had been analyzed as maximal tests.…”

Velocidade de corrida associada ao consumo máximo de oxigênio em meninos de 10 a 15 anos

“…Con- Quando realizamos um ajuste exponencial para normalização do VO 2max em relação à massa corporal (ml.kg 0,67 .min -1 ), que, segundo alguns autores 21,22 , remove as diferenças de dimensão corporal que podem inter-cordando com estudos anteriores 25,26 , verificou-se que o VO 2max em valores absolutos (l/min) aumenta, enquanto que, em valores relativos (ml.kg -1 .min -1 ), se mantém constante dos 10 aos 15 anos de idade em meninos não treinados. Embora exista essa manutenção dos valores relativos, as intensidades associadas ao VO 2max determinadas por dois diferentes critérios aumentaram nessa faixa etária, sugerindo melhora da EC com o aumento da idade.…”