Effects of the state and specificity of aerobic training on the %VO2max versus %HRmax ratio during cycling

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of the status and specificity of exercise training in the ratio between maximum oxygen consumption (%VO2max) and the percentage of maximal heart rate (%HRmax) during incremental exercise on a cycle ergometer. METHODS: Seven runners, 9 cyclists, 11 triathletes, and 12 sedentary individuals, all male and apparently healthy, underwent exhaustive incremental exercise on cycle ergometers. Linear regressions between %VO2max x %HRmax were determined for each individual. Based on these regressions, %HRmax was assessed corresponding to a determined %VO2max (50, 60, 70, 80, and 90%) from each participant. RESULTS: Significant differences were not found between the groups in %HRmax for each of the %VO2max assessed. Analyzing the volunteers as a single group, the average of the corresponding %HRmax to 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90% %VO2max were 67, 73, 80, 87, and 93%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ratio between %VO2max and %HRmax in the groups assessed during incremental exercise on the bicycle is not dependent on the status and specificity of aerobic exercise training.