@article {Beltrami23, author = {Fernando G Beltrami and Christian Froyd and Alexis R Mauger and Alan J Metcalfe and Frank Marino and Timothy D Noakes}, title = {Conventional testing methods produce submaximal values of maximum oxygen consumption}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {23--29}, year = {2012}, doi = {10.1136/bjsports-2011-090306}, publisher = {British Association of Sport and Excercise Medicine}, abstract = {Background This study used a novel protocol to test the hypothesis that a plateau in oxygen consumption (VO2max) during incremental exercise testing to exhaustion represents the maximal capacity of the cardiovascular system to transport oxygen. Methods Twenty-six subjects were randomly divided into two groups matched by their initial VO2max. On separate days, the reverse group performed (i) an incremental uphill running test on a treadmill (INC1) plus verification test (VER) at a constant workload 1 km h-1 higher than the last completed stage in INC1; (ii) a decremental test (DEC) in which speed started as same as the VER but was reduced progressively and (iii) a final incremental test (INCF). The control group performed only INC on the same days that the reverse group was tested. Results VO2max remained within 0.6 ml kg-1 min-1 across the three trials for the control group (p=0.93) but was 4.4\% higher during DEC compared with INC1 (63.9{\textpm}3.8 vs 61.2{\textpm}4.8 ml kg-1 min-1, respectively, p=0.004) in the reverse group, even though speed at VO2max was lower (14.3{\textpm}1.1 vs 16.2{\textpm}0.7 km h-1 for DEC and INC1, respectively, p=0.0001). VO2max remained significantly higher during INCF (63.6{\textpm}3.68 ml kg-1 min-1, p=0.01), despite an unchanged exercise time between INC1 and INCF. Conclusion These findings go against the concept that a plateau in oxygen consumption measured during the classically described INC and VER represents a systemic limitation to oxygen use. The reasons for a higher VO2 during INCF following the DEC test are unclear.}, issn = {0306-3674}, URL = {https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/1/23}, eprint = {https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/1/23.full.pdf}, journal = {British Journal of Sports Medicine} }