The sustainability of VO2max: effect of decreasing the workload.

The study examined the maintenance of VO(2max) using VO(2max) as the controlling variable instead of power. Therefore, ten subjects performed three exhaustive cycling exercise bouts: (1) an incremental test to determine VO(2max) and the minimal power at VO(2max) (PVO(max)), (2) a constant-power test at PVO(max) and (3) a variable-power test (VPT) during which power was varied to control VO(2) at VO(2max). Stroke volume (SV) was measured by impedance in each test and the stroke volume reserve was calculated as the difference between the maximal and the average 5-s SV.