Lessons from history for V ˙ O 2 max and the V ˙ O 2 plateau, part 1, 1920 - 1961: original concepts were based on...

The maximal rate of oxygen uptake ( $\dot{V}{O}_2$ max) has an early history (1920-1961) based on discontinuous incremental exercise protocols. Regardless, debate continues on many sub-topics and methodologies involved in this measure. There could be lessons to learn about the relevance, or not, of content within the accumulating knowledge of this topic if there is a detailed account of the research of this time-period.

Manuscript references were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar for the targeted topics and time-period.

In 1923 and 1924, Hill proposed that during discontinuous incremental exercise bouts, there is eventually a levelling in $\dot{V}{O}_2$ despite increasing exercise intensity or sustained effort. Subsequent researchers in the 1950's described this 'levelling in $\dot{V}{O}_2$ ' observation as a plateau, which functioned to verify $\dot{V}{O}_2$ max. However, when critiquing the data from studies with valid methodology, evidence of a $\dot{V}{O}_2$ plateau at or near $\dot{V}{O}_2$ max was only seen in a subset of participants in 1924 (2 of 7), with added evidence in 1959 (2 of 4) and 1961 (4 of 5). Collectively, 50% of the subjects were unable to attain a $\dot{V}{O}_2$ plateau response at $\dot{V}{O}_2$ max.

Despite major limitations to the published research and data interpretations prior to 1961, such work led to the incorrect (not evidence-based) expectation that all participants should demonstrate a $\dot{V}{O}_2$ plateau at or near $\dot{V}{O}_2$ max. The inter-connectedness of $\dot{V}{O}_2$ max and the $\dot{V}{O}_2$ plateau concepts thereby became engrained into the pre-1970s, and perhaps later, epistemology of exercise physiology.