The DOI matches its Crossref record; 77 of the 77 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance
Abstract
In the exercising human, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is limited by the ability of the cardiorespiratory system to deliver oxygen to the exercising muscles. This is shown by three major lines of evidence: 1) when oxygen delivery is altered (by blood doping, hypoxia, or beta-blockade), VO2max changes accordingly; 2) the increase in VO2max with training results primarily from an increase in maximal cardiac output (not an increase in the a-v O2 difference); and 3) when a small muscle mass is overperfused during exercise, it has an extremely high capacity for consuming oxygen. Thus, O2 delivery, not skeletal muscle O2 extraction, is viewed as the primary limiting factor for VO2max in exercising humans. Metabolic adaptations in skeletal muscle are, however, critical for improving submaximal endurance performance. Endurance training causes an increase in mitochondrial enzyme activities, which improves performance by enhancing fat oxidation and decreasing lactic acid accumulation at a given VO2. VO2max is an important variable that sets the upper limit for endurance performance (an athlete cannot operate above 100% VO2max, for extended periods). Running economy and fractional utilization of VO2max also affect endurance performance. The speed at lactate threshold (LT) integrates all three of these variables and is the best physiological predictor of distance running performance.
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“As aerobic metabolism increases during exercise, oxygen extraction from the blood by metabolically active tissue increases (3) and results in lower oxygen content in venous circulation, representing the metabolic demand of the body.”
From Comparison of a Continuous and Discontinuous GXT on VO2 in Resistance-Trained and Endurance-Trained Males (2022) · cites this paper as [3]
In the citing paper
“This demand is normally met by elevation in cardiac output (the principal driver of aerobic capacity) [12] and reductions in systemic vascular resistance during large muscle group activity [13].”
From The Identification and Management of High Blood Pressure Using Exercise Blood Pressure: Current Evidence and Practical Guidance (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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Metadata
- Authors
- BASSETT, D. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
- Corresponding author
- BASSETT, DAVID R.
- ORCID
- BASSETT, DAVID R.
- Venue
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
- Published
- 2000-01
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 70
- ISSN
- 0195-9131 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2106345877
- Cited by
- 2,410
- References
- 77
- Citations by year
- 2026: 154 · 2025: 171 · 2024: 198 · 2023: 142 · 2022: 154 · 2021: 123 · 2020: 145 · 2019: 143 · 2018: 140 · 2017: 117 · 2016: 113 · 2015: 92 · 2014: 103 · 2013: 91 · 2012: 80
- FWCI
- 50.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Keywords
- VO2max, endurance performance, oxygen delivery, cardiac output, blood doping, hypoxia, beta-adrenergic blockade, endurance training, mitochondrial enzyme activity, fat oxidation, lactate accumulation, running economy, lactate threshold, distance running performance
- MeSH terms
- Cardiac Output, Heart, Humans, Lung, Mitochondria, Muscle, Oxidation-Reduction, Oxygen, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Endurance, Running, Anaerobic Threshold, Muscle, Skeletal, Lactic Acid, Lipid Metabolism
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