I was thinking about this VO2 thing. It seems that running to improve VO2max would be the most likely way to injure yourself. So I was thinking that maybe I could find a Swimming to Improve VO2max workout.
Which then made me wonder, is VO2max a heart thing only? Or do the specific exercise muscles play a big part too?
I'm just trying to avoid injury. What are your thoughts on doing "running" VO2 workouts on an elliptical runner instead? (your answer to the last question might be the same for this I suppose).
4 comments:
Running is probably the quickest way to improve VO2 max and you are right,...maybe the quickest way to injury. All of the sports pose a risk for injury, especially overuse injuries. But if you gradually increase training volume and/or intensity you can avoid injury.
As for the swimming, it can improve VO2 max, but not likely as much running and for a few reasons:
1. Swimming is not weight bearing.
2. Circulation is assisted by the horizontal body position. and
3. Water temp will aid in heat dissipation which can be a limiting factor in performance. People will lose heat at a rate many times faster in water than in air ( unless moving like on a bike).
Also,... VO2 max is more than heart a heart thing. It is the whole body's ability to extract oxygen which includes the heart's ability to pump blood, as well as the muscles' ability to extract o2. I once tested a double amputee (legs) and his vo2 was significantly lower than an able-bodied person. He was missing a significant amount of muscle mass.
I wish you were all closer, I'd gladly do some testing on you. Sometime when you are in the area, I could do sometesting (vo2 max, lactate threshold, hydrostatic weighing, spirometry, etc) Probably the best job in the world ??
Elliptical , "running" workouts would be good, especially when injured, but running would be better if you don't injure yourself.
Finally, your post on VO2max is very good and accurate. The only other factor to keep in mind is "sport-specificity". Wanna be a good swimmer, train by swimming more. Wanna be a good runner, train by running more. Wanna be a good elliptical person,... well you get it.
I think I could do without knowing my Hydrostatic Weight results. Maybe a year from now that won't be as embarrassing.
The other stuff would be interesting. The Spirometry most of all, With my history of asthma I'd be curious to see results of lung function.
I've turned up my run a bit this weekend as a result of this discussion.
Anyhow if an opportunity in scheduling allows this testing to happen, it would be cool.
We are getting pulmonary function test done at work this week. We are starting a respirator protecton program. Just out of curiousity, could I use the results of this to measure anything useful, other than the fact I can wear a respirator.
Just wondering. Of course if I fail this test I wonder what that is telling me about my training.
Just realized I forgot to follow up on this post. In sports, Total lung capacity and vital capacity are almost 100% based on height and gender. If you are taller, you'll have bigger values and of course males having higher values than females.
You can improve the muscles that support breathing and forced lung values, but most times the only thing to show up that impacts us is a restrictive problem such as asthma.
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