| Author | Message | ||
     Juerg Senior Member Username: Juerg Post Number: 2525 Registered: 04-2006 |
More and more can we see promotions of testing centers as they understand, that 220 - age and or 2 and 4 mmol lactate are not cutting it anymore. So they make very nice explanations. Here one of the many popping up . " Important Factors. The delivery of oxygen to the working muscles is what limits ones VO2max during physical activity.5 This delivery is dependent on the combined efficiency of the lungs, heart, bloodstream and exercising muscles in taking oxygen in and transporting it through the blood to the working muscles where it is used as fuel.5 In order to sustain any level of activity, adequate blood flow by the cardiovascular system is required to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the working muscles.5 Significant variation in VO2max across populations and fitness levels results primarily from differences in maximal cardiac output.1 Cardiac output is defined as the volume of blood expelled by the heart per minute.5 Therefore, VO2max is closely related to the functional capacity of the heart.1 The factors influencing cardiac output are heart rate and stoke volume. Stoke volume is the amount of blood pumped in one heart contraction and heart rate is the number of beats per minute.5 The heart has an amazing ability to adapt to the physical demands of training by allowing more blood to enter the left ventricle when it is relaxed.4 Training also builds the heart into a stronger pump, enhancing its contractile ability.5 An increased left ventricular volume along with stronger contractions creates a larger stroke volume resulting in greater oxygen delivery to the muscles.4." So now how they promote to actually test what they tell us ? "Testing Facilities. ........... is one of the few facilities in Calgary equipped with state-of-the-art metabolic testing equipment. Our testers are experienced Kinesiologists that are trained in VO2max testing and provide you with accurate results and an in depth training program." Hmmm remember they just stated that the CO is teh reason of changes in VO2 max. "Significant variation in VO2max across populations and fitness levels results primarily from differences in maximal cardiac output.1" Which is absolutely true. Problem . Their "state of the art " VO2 max testing actually can't test CO or SV at all. It only measures the O2 taken in ( 20.9 ) and the amount coming out. That's simply is it . So the Fick formula VO2 = CO x ( a-v) O2 diff is not done at all. as they miss the whole CO part. What they can tell us is teh same as in a all out max HR and or in an all out Wattage test where the whole team ( Body ) fails or reaches a maximum at the given testing day. So the only part they can actually tell us is the max performance and or the O2 used at teh different intensities. Who and how much the CO is is based on ????? So if we make the next step in actual offering testing facilities we have to look at carefully what is real testing and what is just simply a nice package with very limited info. In today's testing facilities we should see not the old ideas new packaged but rather the new ideas tested . So look for testing facilities , which really test your Stroke volume and oxygen delivery abilities. before you simple pay lot's of money for little info. The VO2 info you get from this tests can be done close to the same with your polar fit test and the % calculation can be done with a simple calculator or your brain. Time has changed as we can really test this days more and more directly . Problem. The hundreds of test centers out there still work with" Duct tape and wire" to fit your water lines. It may be time to look for a company who may in fact use real welding equipment to do a proper job. Just some thoughts from a snowy north . |