4092SPS Exercise Physiology 1 Template Lab Report

TITLE: A comparison of aerobic capacity in healthy young males and females

Module: 4092SPS Exercise Physiology 1
METHODS:
Participant Details (this should include a brief description of the characteristics of the
participants): This study was performed in the Liverpool John Moores exercise
physiology labs with healthy Liverpool Hohn Moors exercise physiology students.
Table 1. shows participants characteristics.
Mean±SD
Sex (female/male) 30/30
Weight (kg) 62.7 ±79.4
Height (cm) 164.3±178.5
Age (years) 1±19
Study Design (this should describe the experiment):
This study design is a cross sectional study where participants attended on one occasion.
aim is to measure maximal aerobic capacity (vo2 max) in young health Liverpool john
moors students’ females and males and look at any differences or relationships between the
different data sets between females and males where they performed an incremental
exercise test to maximal exhaustion.
Procedures (description of the measurements performed in the experiment):
The participant age, height and weight of participant were taken with the following
equipment.
Height SECA 213 stadiometer
Weight SECA 704 weighting
Other equipments were also used:
• To measure we use verity sense.
• Online gas analysis system metalyser 3B.
• Cycle ergometer LODE corival.
Method
Participants should be weighed without their shoes to determine their mass in kilograms.
Additionally, the height of participants should be measured without their shoes on and
recorded in centimetres. Equip the participant with a bicep-worn heart rate monitor and
connect it to POLAR BEAT or gas analysis machine. Align the bike seat to match the ideal
height for the participant. Configuring the online gas analysis machine involves a series of
steps. First, the user opens the "Metasoft Studio" application and selects the "Student
Friendly" workflow from the left. Subsequently, they highlight "new patient" and choose
"new," entering the participant's normative data before confirming with "ok." Following
that, the user selects the device configuration for the test, ensuring the necessary device is
connected, as indicated by a green highlight. Clicking "next" progresses the setup, and if
prompted to skip a sensor adjustment, the user selects "yes." Secure the face mask onto the
participant and connect the sample line to the triple v sensor. Make sure it is firmly
positioned inside the mask, guaranteeing a stable connection that won't come loose during
the session.
Ensure the participant is seated and rested before initiating data collection by pressing
"Play." Record baseline heart rate, RPE, and VO2 measurements. Start at 95 watts (60
watts for females) and document values at 2.5, 5.5, and 8.5 minutes. Increase the workload
to 135 watts at 3 minutes, 165 watts at 6 minutes, and 200 watts at 9 minutes. Maintain
accuracy in data capture. Continue the exercise until the participant either reaches maximal
exertion or cannot sustain an RPM of >50W, indicating the end of the test. Instruct
participants to cycle backward while gradually reducing the wattage, encouraging
4092SPS Exercise Physiology 1 Template Lab Report

continuous pedalling. Finally, remove the face mask. Monitor participant safety and
comfort throughout the entire procedure.
Statistical Analysis (description of how the data was analysed and presented):
All the data was analysed using software like excel spread sheet into bar graphs with the
mean results including error bars from data gathered in the exercise physiology lab using
Online gas analysis system metalyser 3B.
RESULTS
(to include text, tables and figures you choose)
Figure 1. Displays absolute VO2 (l.min-1)

As shown in figure 1 the bar graph presented.

absolute of vo2 in males are significantly higher than females.
Figure 2.VO2 relative to body mass (ml.min.kg-1)

This graph displays that the relative vo2 to body mass is significantly higher in males than
females. Males also has higher body masses then women.
Figure 3.
Figure 3. A scatter plot
depicting the relationship
between the absolute VO2 Max
(litres/min) of both males and
females and their body mass (kg)
reveals a notable positive
correlation. As body mass
increases, there is a
Discussion corresponding increase in VO2
(to include a summary of the aims and findings of Max.
the study, compare the results to previous
research, provide the potential mechanisms for
the results found and give a conclusion to the
study)
The aim of aim of the study was to compare how well males and females performed in
terms of their aerobic capacity (VO2 max) and to identify any differences based on gender.
Interestingly, it was found that males tended to have a higher aerobic capacity (measured in
l/min and ml/kg/min) compared to females. Results suggested that this was due to the
4092SPS Exercise Physiology 1 Template Lab Report

males’ taller stature and larger body mass. Even when the participants' body mass was not
considered, the gap still persisted in the normalised VO2 (ml/kg/min), shedding light on
the lighter weight of females compared to males. It appeared that this difference might be
because males generally have more muscle mass, along with larger heart and lung
capacities. The author’s hypothesis is that this suggested that women generally exhibit a
lower VO2 max compared to men. This discrepancy may be influenced by physiological
differences, including variations in body composition, muscle mass, and the cardiovascular
and respiratory systems. In a prior study by Nabi et al. (2015), involving healthy, young
students, it was found that males exhibited a notably higher aerobic capacity (l/min). This
difference remained significant even when normalising VO2 max to body weight, where
males maintained a considerably higher ratio compared to females. These earlier findings
support the data and conclusions drawn from the current study. Our study found that, on
average, women exhibit 15-30% lower aerobic capacity when normalised for body weight.
A similar trend was observed in peak oxygen uptake, with women showing a 15-25%
decrease compared to other studies, differing by 5% (Rusko, 1992; Lundby and Robach,
2015). Our study shows that male participants had higher body masses, this suggests they
had larger lungs. The anatomical variations between men and women could imply that
women face decreases in diffusion capacity relative to men. This is attributed women’s
smaller surface area for gas exchange and reduced airflow rate. Guenette et al. (2010)
found that “nine of the ten women experienced significant expiratory flow limitation
during maximal exercise.” The transport of oxygen in the bloodstream is directly correlated
with the total haemoglobin mass. Women have lower haemoglobin levels which reduces
their oxygen capacity and even if the amount of blood is the same the oxygen levels would
be different this is shown in both trained and non-trained women. Women having less
skeletal muscle percentages then men have allowed them to obtain lower aerobic power.
muscle are predominant consumers of oxygen during exercise giving men greater vo2 max.
(Perez-Gomez, Rodriguez et al. 2008). Women biologically have higher fat percentages
than men in order to protect the female reproductive system. expressing VO2max relative
to lean body mass significantly reduces the observed difference in aerobic capacity
between men and women found in a study that looked at lower limb lean mass rather than
body mass adjusted vo2 max which reflected muscular aerobic capacity (Martins et al.,
2023), which concurs with the results of our study.

Conclusion

The study concludes that male participants demonstrated higher Vo2 max, attributed to
their larger body sizes, including greater lung capacity, skeletal muscle mass, and higher
haemoglobin levels, which is in line with another research. Expressing VO2max relative to
lean body mass significantly reduces the observed difference in aerobic capacity between
men and women due to males’ biological physiology.
4092SPS Exercise Physiology 1 Template Lab Report

Referencing
Diaz-Canestro, C., Pentz, B., Sehgal, A. and Montero, D. Differences in cardiac output and
aerobic capacity between sexes are explained by blood volume and oxygen carrying
capacity. Frontiers in physiology, [online]. Available at:
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.747903
[Accessed:13th December 2023.]

Gavin, T., (2009) Gender differences in aerobic and work capacity during plantar flexion
exercise by Lindsay stagner. [online]p2. Available at:
https://thescholarship.ecu.edu/bitstream/handle/10342/1894/Stagner_ecu_0600M_10033.p
df.
[Accessed at:13th December 2023]

Martins, H. A. et al. (2023) ‘Sex differences in maximal oxygen uptake adjusted for
skeletal muscle mass in amateur endurance athletes: A cross sectional study’, Healthcare
pp10. Available at:
Doi: 10.3390/healthcare11101502.
[Accessed: December 13th, 2023]

Olfert, I. M. et al. (2004) ‘Does gender affect human pulmonary gas exchange during
exercise? Sex and pulmonary gas exchange’, The journal of physiology, 557(Pt 2), pp.
529–541. Available at:
Doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.056887.
[Accessed :13th December 2023]

O’Sullivan, A. J. (2009) ‘Does oestrogen allow women to store fat more efficiently? A
biological advantage for fertility and gestation’, Obesity reviews: an official journal of the
International Association for the Study of Obesity, 10(2), pp. 168–177. Available at: Doi:
10.1111/j.1467-789x.2008.00539. x.
[Accessed: December 2023].

Tauseef Nabi et al (2015). Assessment of cardiovascular fitness [VO2 max] among

medical students by Queens College step test, pp418-421.
Available at:
esearchgate.net/publication/338297762_Assessment_of_cardiovascular_fitness_VO2_max
_among_medical_students_by_Queens_College_step_test.
[Accessed :13th December 2023]
4092SPS Exercise Physiology 1 Template Lab Report