Does endurance training improve V˙O2max through increases in Qmax or a-V˙O2diff in healthy young individuals?
In healthy young individuals, short-term endurance training improves maximal oxygen uptake primarily through increased maximal cardiac output rather than widened arteriovenous oxygen difference.
Based on a relatively small number of studies, improvement in V˙O2max following 5-13 wk of ET is associated with increase in Qmax, but not in a-V˙O2diff, in previously untrained to moderately trained healthy young individuals.
Montero et al. (2015) studied this question.