The Relation Between Power Output, Oxygen Uptake and Heart Rate in Male Athletes

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

As the exercise intensity is often expressed as percentage of either maximal workload (%Wmax), percentage of maximal heart rate (%HRmax), or as percentage of maximal oxygen uptake, the relationship between %Wmax, %VO2max, and %HRmax was determined in 53 male cyclists. All subjects performed an incremental maximal cycle ergometer test. In all athletes examined, a linear relation between power output, oxygen uptake and heart rate was observed. The relationships between %Wmax and %VO2max as well as between %Wmax and %HRmax were linear (r = 0.98 and r = 0.97; p < 0.001). It is concluded that studies which are different in expression of exercise intensity (%Wmax or %VO2max) can be compared and that the relation between %Wmax and %HRmax needs to be determined individually when an appropriate individualized training intensity based on heart rate is required.