Lessons from history for V ˙ O 2 max and the V ˙ O 2 plateau, part 1, 1920 - 1961: original concepts were based on discontinuous exercise protocols.

PURPOSE: The maximal rate of oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 max) has an early history (1920-1961) based on discontinuous incremental exercise protocols. Regardless, debate continues on many sub-topics and methodologies involved in this measure. There could be lessons to learn about the relevance, or not, of content within the accumulating knowledge of this topic if there is a detailed account of the research of this time-period.

METHODS

Manuscript references were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar for the targeted topics and time-period.

RESULTS

In 1923 and 1924, Hill proposed that during discontinuous incremental exercise bouts, there is eventually a levelling in V ˙ O 2 despite increasing exercise intensity or sustained effort. Subsequent researchers in the 1950's described this 'levelling in V ˙ O 2 ' observation as a plateau, which functioned to verify V ˙ O 2 max. However, when critiquing the data from studies with valid methodology, evidence of a V ˙ O 2 plateau at or near V ˙ O 2 max was only seen in a subset of participants in 1924 (2 of 7), with added evidence in 1959 (2 of 4) and 1961 (4 of 5). Collectively, 50% of the subjects were unable to attain a V ˙ O 2 plateau response at V ˙ O 2 max.

CONCLUSION

Despite major limitations to the published research and data interpretations prior to 1961, such work led to the incorrect (not evidence-based) expectation that all participants should demonstrate a V ˙ O 2 plateau at or near V ˙ O 2 max. The inter-connectedness of V ˙ O 2 max and the V ˙ O 2 plateau concepts thereby became engrained into the pre-1970s, and perhaps later, epistemology of exercise physiology.