Aerobic Exercise Training and VO_2max: A Scoping Review of Study Populations and Protocols

Maximal aerobic capacity (VO_2max) is a well-established predictor of cardiovascular health, morbidity, and all-cause mortality. While many systematic reviews and meta-analyses have characterized the effects of aerobic exercise training on VO_2max, they fail to capture the state of the literature as a whole. This scoping review aims to summarize the populations and training protocols used in the current literature and highlight gaps in our current understanding of the VO_2max response to aerobic training. A total of 617 studies were selected and analyzed in this review. The majority of exercise protocols used were moderate intensity continuous training (MICT; n = 363). Few studies employed high-intensity interval training (HIIT; n = 102), sprint interval training (SIT; n = 70), or a combination of exercise modalities (n = 82). A large number of studies only included male participants (n = 264), while a few studies only included female participants (n = 83). The majority of training interventions were shorter than three months (n = 399). Many studies failed to report information regarding participant health (n = 169) and physical activity status (n = 290). Exercise modality, sex representation, the effects of long-term training, and reporting practices represent key gaps within the literature that should be further explored in the future.