Geek Page

The intent of the “Geek Page” is to provide more in depth information to the technically minded client. The following are definitions of the output parameters, which are tested during VO2 and Sub Max VO2 testing.

We use “geek” in only the most endearing and respectful way. At Multisport Solutions we take pride in the fact that we are continuously poking, prodding and questioning current training methodology. If there is something that needs to be added or discussed on this page please call or shoot us an e-mail and we will address it right away!!

DEFINITIONS:

Vo2 ml/minute:

This is the amount of oxygen your body can process and utilize in one minute. Often expressed in liters per minute. Highly trained endurance athletes will utilize more oxygen throughout the various heart rate zones than lesser trained athletes.

For example a trained female athlete in her thirties may use between 3 and 3.5 liters of oxygen per minute compared to an absolute total air volume (amount of air you breath in 1 minute) of around 100 liters.

Elite male rowers may use up to 7.5 liters of oxygen per minute compared to a total air volume of over 250 liters per minute.

  • Trainability:This value is trainable based on your ability to train and recruit specific muscle groups for your activity. It is also trainable based on your ability to train and recruit your cardiovascular and central (and peripheral) nervous system.

Vo2 ml/kg/minute:

This is commonly referred to as your VO2 MAX it is your vo2 in ml per minute (above value) divided by your body weight in kilograms.

It is an absolute measure of your bodies ability to process oxygen

This is the number you always hear about, here are some reported VO2 max values of famous athletes:

  • Bjorn Daehle (cross country skier): 96
  • Matt Carpenter (marathon): 92
  • Miguel Indurain (cyclist): 88
  • Greg LeMond (cyclist): 83
  • Greta Waitz (marathon/female): 73

  • Trainability:As this value is a function of weight, the easiest way to increase VO2 max is to loose non essential body weight. If you loose 10% body your body weight in fat your VO2 max will increase by 10% provided you have maintained the same fitness.

Vco2 ml/minute:

This is the amount of carbon dioxide produced as a result of metabolic processes. Increases in VCO2 are usually associated (in part) with carbohydrate utilization. The general rule is that as workload (heart rate) increases so does the percentage (utilization) of carbohydrate versus fats.

  • Trainability:As a rule when you are at or above your anaerobic threshold the primary fuel source is carbohydrate (through anaerobic glycolysis). However at heart rates below 90% of max there appears to be a nonlinear relationship between output and CO2 production. In athletes we have tested the primary factor in sub maximal CO2 production appears to be the amount of specific training and or the fitness level of the athlete. CO2 production directly relates to the athletes efficiency at a given workload and is highly variable between athletes.

Vco2 ml/kg/minute:

This is the above value divided by your body weight in kilograms.

Ve/Vo2:

This is the amount of pulmonary ventilation (total air volume you breath in one minute) divided by the volume of oxygen used. Usually it takes about 30 liters of air to metabolize 1 liter of oxygen. The lower the number the better, some elite athletes exhibit numbers below 20 meaning that they are very efficient in recruiting and utilizing oxygen as a percentage of total air volume.

  • Trainability:If you have a high lung volume but low oxygen number it could mean that the various transport mechanisms which bring oxygen to working muscles, are compromised. For example dehydration would lead to lower over all blood plasma volumes and there fore decreased oxygen concentration to working muscles. In addition low recruitment patterns due to lack of training or injury would lead to high ve/vo2 numbers.

Ve/Vco2:

This is the same as ve/vo2 except it relates to carbon dioxide. The closer one gets to maximal effort the more co2 will be used for metabolic activities.

Ve/Lpm:

Respiratory minute volume, or the volume of air exhaled in one minute.

FeO2:

Expressed as a percentage this is the amount of oxygen you breath out. Under normal circumstances you breath oxygen in at 20.9%, under workload the amount you breath out will be less. For this value the lower the number the better. During exercise this number is usually between 14-18%.

  • Trainability:Low numbers suggest that there is good gas exchange across the alveoli. There may also be a correlation to stroke volume and/or right and left ventricle ejection fraction (the fraction or amount of blood pumped per beat). As always muscle efficiency and recruitment play a role, for example a high amount of oxygen may delivered to working muscles but may not be utilized do to lack of training or compromised capillary development.

FeCo2:

Expressed as a percentage this is the amount of carbon dioxide you breath out. Under normal circumstances you breath in very little Co2 (0.03%), under workload the amount you breath out will increase depending on the level of cellular metabolism. Increased Co2 values are associated with lactate clearance and carbohydrate metabolism.

RER:

Respiratory exchange ratio, this is the ratio of carbon dioxide versus oxygen your body is using. For example if you are using 1 liter of O2 and 0.7 liters of CO2 your exchange ratio is 0.7. A low ratio of .7 indicates fats are being used as a primary fuel source a ratio closer to one indicates carbohydrate as the primary fuel source. A ratio of .85 indicates about a 50/50 split. This is one of the most critical measurements for longer distance events because it speaks directly to the energy and fuel systems being used at any intensity level

  • Trainability:This ratio is highly trainable, and variable between athletes. For example short distance mountain bikers (or runners) may exhibit a ratio as high as 1.2 if they are used to a high volume of threshold training but may not be as efficient in the lower sub maximal HR zones. Ironman athletes on the other hand may display very low ratios in the .7 to .9 range up until they hit threshold subsequently they may be unable to raise their ratio much above 1.05. This ratio is trainable based on the volume and intensity levels at which you train.