Beyond the VO2max plateau a new approach for measuring maximal oxygen uptake

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) is typically defined by the presence of the "plateau phenomenon" during incremental exercise tests, in which O2 consumption levels-off in spite of increases in workload. This is thought to reflect a limitation in the capacity of the heart to pump O2 enriched blood to the exercising limbs. Some researchers however question not only the biological validity of the "plateau concept", based on mathematical and methodological issues, but whether O2 delivery to the exercising muscles indeed sets the upper limits for VO2max. This thesis aimed to address some of these controversies