What is oxygen consumption?
oxygen consumption is a measurement of how much oxygen the body uses per minute. The maximum capacity of human oxygen consumption, known as VO2 Max or Peak Oxygen Absuptake, is one of the best ways to determine the level of cardiovascular condition of man. Sports trainers use special laboratory machines directly to calculate VO2 MAX, but people at home can also estimate VO2 Max using indirect methods such as 1.5 miles (2.4 m) test.
An elite endurance athlete with a high level of fitness can achieve a higher VO2 max. Athletes can use their oxygen consumption data to measure aerobic levels, calculate specific caloric needs and determine the optimal heart rate for endurance training.
There are two ways to express the level of oxygen consumption: in absolute expression as a liter of oxygen per minute (l/min) or relatively as mililiters of oxygen per kilogram body bodyWeight per minute (ml/kg/min). The oxygen consumption rate is usually higher in men than in women. Other factors that affect the VO2 MAX include the composition of human body, age, alight height and environmental temperature.
people can increase oxygen consumption by endurance training; Thus, athletes can regularly measure their maximum level of VO2 to check the improvement of endurance skills. A nutritionist can use details of oxygen consumption to accurately determine the metabolic rate of human and caloric needs and recommend suitable foods that meet the energy requirements of the individual. Sports trainers also use VO2 Max to design optimal endurance educational programs. Athletes can improve their aerobic abilities if they constantly train on a certain percentage of their VO2 Max, which corresponds to the optimal level of heart rate that can be measured with hearingItor speed during exercise.
Physiological laboratories usually have special equipment that directly and accurately measures oxygen consumption. The automated treadmill or stationary wheel gradually increases the intensity of exercise up to maximum aerobic capacity, while the respiratory mask sends data on oxygen concentration to the computer. There are also indirect tests that can predict VO2 Max. A common indirect test is the 1.5 miles (2.4 m) test. In this test, people record the amount of time required to run 1.5 million (2.4 m) as quickly as possible and identify their approximate VO2 MAX using a specific calculation, which also includes age and body weight.