Relationships between pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics and other measures of aerobic fitness in middle- and long-distance runners

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between on- and off-transient pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics and other measures of aerobic fitness in middle-distance (MD) and long-distance (LD) runners. 16 MD and 16 LD runners participated and each completed a series of tests to determine their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) gas-exchange threshold (GET), running economy (RE) and the primary time-constant for VO2 at the onset (tau(on)) and offset (tau(off)) of moderate-intensity treadmill exercise. Relationships between measures were established using Pearson product moment correlations (r). The relationships between VO2 kinetic parameter and other aerobic measures varied depending on classification of runner (MD or LD runner). There was a significant relationship between (VO2max) and tau(on) and tau(off) in LD runners (tau(on): r = -0.70, P = 0.003; tau(off): r = -0.55, P = 0.029), but not for MD (tau(on): r = 0.24, P = 0.366; tau(off): r = -0.09, P = 0.739). Similar relationships also existed between GET, RE and kinetic parameters for LD but not MD runners. The inconsistent relationships between VO2 kinetic parameters and other measures of aerobic fitness in MD and LD runners is intriguing. Further work is now required to identify how the volume and intensity of training influence peripheral adaptations in Type I and Type II fibres and how these may, or may not influence VO2 kinetic responses in the moderate- and heavy-intensity domain.