Applicability of Criteria for VO2max in Active Adolescents

This study examined the applicability of criteria for maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O 2 max) in adolescents. Active females ( n =38) and males ( n =196) who were students at a sports-technical junior high school performed a treadmill Bruce protocol to volitional fatigue. The criteria for V̇O 2 max were R ≥1.0, HR ≥95% of predicted maximal for age, and an increase in V̇O 2 ≤2.1 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 with an increase in workload. The first criterion was met by 97% of the females and 93% of the males, while 81% of the females and 75% of the males met the second criterion. Only 8% of the females and 13% of the males met the third criterion. Those who achieved a plateau showed higher HR at peak exercise compared to those who did not (204 ±7.0 vs. 200.6 ±7.2, P ≤0.05). Our data indicate that a high proportion of adolescents exhibit subjective and objective indicators of maximal performance without showing a plateau in V̇O 2 . Age-specific criteria for V̇O 2 max should be developed.