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Int J Sports Med 2001; 22(8): 586-592
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-18522
Training and Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Changes in Ventilatory Threshold with Exercise Training in a Sedentary Population: The Heritage Family Study

S. E. Gaskill1 , A. J. Walker2 , R. A. Serfass2 , C. Bouchard3 , J. Gagnon4 , D. C. Rao5 , J. S. Skinner6 , J. H. Wilmore7 , A. S. Leon2
  • 1Human Performance Laboratory University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
  • 2Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science, School of Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • 3Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
  • 4Laval University, Quebec, Qu., Canada
  • 5Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
  • 6Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
  • 7Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 November 2001 (online)

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of exercise training intensity relative to the ventilatory threshold (VT) on changes in work (watts) and V˙O2 at the ventilatory threshold and at maximal exercise in previously sedentary participants in the HERITAGE Family Study. We hypothesized that those who exercised below their VT would improve less in V˙O2 at the ventilatory threshold (V˙O2vt) and V˙O2max than those who tained at an intensity greater than their VT. Supervised cycle ergometer training was performed at the 4 participating clinical centers, 3 times a week for 20 weeks. Exercise training progressed from the HR corresponding to 55 % V˙O2max for 30 minutes to the HR associated with 75 % V˙O2max for 50 minutes for the final 6 weeks. VT was determined at baseline and after exercise training using standardized methods. 432 sedentary white and black men (n = 224) and women (n = 208), aged 17 to 65 years, were retrospectively divided into groups based on whether exercise training was initiated below, at, or above VT. Results: 1) Training intensity (relative to VT) accounting for about 26 % of the improvement in V˙O2vt (R2 = 0.26, p < 0.0001). 2) The absolute intensity of training in watts (W) accounted for approximately 56 % of the training effect at VT (R2 = 0.56, p < 0.0001) with post-training watts at VT (VTwatts) being not significantly different than W during training (p > 0.70). 3) Training intensity (relative to VT) had no effect on ΔV˙O2max. These data clearly show that as a result of aerobic training both the V˙O2 and W associated with VT respond and become similar to the absolute intensity of sustained (3 × /week for 50 min) aerobic exercise training. Higher intensities of exercise, relative to VT, result in larger gains in V˙O2vt but not in V˙O2max.

Key Words:

Submaximal exercise, submaximal fitness, V˙O2, race, sex.

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 S. E. Gaskill, Ph. D.

The University of Montana
Department of Health and Human Performance

112 McGill Hall
Missoula, MT 59812
USA


Phone: + 01 (406) 243-4268

Fax: + 01 (406) 243-6252

Email: sgaskill@selway.umt.edu.

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