Fitness age and VO2 max

Fitness age and VO2 max

Fitness age is considered the most accurate indicator of cardiovascular endurance and performance in general. It is an appreciation of the body's ability to carry and use oxygen during exercise.

Fitness age and VO2 max occur in many health applications associated with heart rate monitor and are estimated based on the evolution of the pulse during various physical activities. Fitness age decreases (you are younger cardiovascular) with the improvement of physical condition.

Fitness age assessment

In order to be able to estimate your fitness age, you need a device that can detect your pulse during periods of exercise or, even better, all the time. The most common such devices are bracelets or fitness watches that emit that green light on the back with which it detects the pulse at the wrist. There are also pulse detectors in the form of a chest strap, more accurate because they directly perceive the heartbeat, but more difficult to wear.

These devices transmit pulse information to a phone application via bluetooth. The software records and then interprets pulse variations - both maximum heart rate and rest values   and the rate of return of the pulse to rest values   after cessation of exertion.

It is thus estimated an indicator called VO2 max = maximum volume of oxygen that you can consume per minute and kg body in situations of maximum performance.

The application interprets these results according to gender and biological age, taking into account the type of effort and physical performance, for example running speed, etc.

Thus the fitness age is inversely proportional to VO2 max. The more oxygen your body consumes at maximum effort, the better its metabolic level and thus its lower fitness age.

You become younger by training

All workouts force the body to get better by adapting to higher levels of physical stress. They strengthen the heart muscle, improve metabolism, increase lung capacity (inspired air volume), muscle vascularity and muscle mass in the necessary areas.

Thus, during exertion, more oxygen reaches the lungs, then the blood and tissues. This increases the VO2 max.

An analysis of 4,600 healthy people at the Cardiac Exercise Research Group in Norway drew the following conclusions:

- The mean V02max in the evaluated men was 44 mL / kg / min and in the women 35 mL / kg / min

- approximately 7% of VO2max is lost every 10 years of life

- an active elderly person (50-59 years old) has a VO2max compared to an inactive young person (20-29 years old)

Studies show that fitness age is an indicator of health and life expectancy (life expectancy).

And, if our biological age cannot be influenced, fitness age can be reduced over time through physical activity. A good reason to do more sports.