The role of central and peripheral adaptations in the response to endurance training was examined. Changes in cardiac structure and function, oxygen extraction, and muscle enzyme activities following one-leg training were studied.Eleven subjects (eight females, three males) trained on a cycle ergometer 4 weeks with one leg (leg 1), then 4 weeks with the second leg (leg 2). Cardiovascular responses to exercise with both legs and each leg separately were evaluated at entry (T1), after 4 weeks of training (T2), and after a second 4 weeks of training (T3). Peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text] peak) during exercise with leg 1 (T1 to T2 increased 19.8% (P < 0.05) and during exercise with leg 2 (T2 to T3 increased 16.9% (P < 0.05). Maximal oxygen uptake with both legs increased 7.9% from T1 to T2 and 9.4% from T2 to T3 (P < 0.05). During exercise at 60% of [Formula: see text] peak, cardiac output [Formula: see text] was increased significantly only when the trained leg was exercised. [Formula: see text] increased 12.2% for leg 1 between T1 and T2 and 13.0% for leg 2 between T2 and T3 (P < 0.05). M-mode echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular internal diameter at diastole and peak velocity of circumferential fibre shortening at rest or during supine cycle ergometer exercise at T1 and T3 revealed no training induced changes in cardiac dimensions or function. Enzyme analysis of muscle biopsy samples from the vastus lateralis (At T1, T2, T3) revealed no consistent pattern of change in aerobic (malate dehydrogenase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) or anaerobic (phosphofructokinase, lactate dehydroginase, and creatine kinase) enzyme activities. Increases in cardiac output and maximal oxygen uptake which result from short duration endurance training can be achieved, therefore, without measurable central cardiac adaptation. The absence of echocardio-graphically determined changes in cardiac dimensions and contractility and the absence of an increase in cardiac output during exercise with the nontrained leg following training of the contralateral limb support this conclusion.
Measurement of Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2Max) as a Cardiorespiratory Physiological Fitness Parameter Using Sensor Technology-Based Device Development
