Percentages of Maximal Heart Rate, Heart Rate Reserve, and VO2peak for Determining Endurance Training Intensity in Sedentary Women*

The use of 60%-95% of maximal heart rate (HR max), heart rate reserve (HRR), and VO2peak as exercise training intensities was examined in sedentary women, and these intensities were related to HR and VO2 observed at the lactate threshold (LT) and fixed blood lactate concentrations of 2.0, 2.5, and 4.0 mM. Thirty-three subjects (means age = 32.5 +/- 3.9 yrs; means ht = 164.2 +2- 5.0 cm; means wt = 67.6 +/- 13.9 kg) completed a VO2/LT treadmill test using a level running protocol. The values at LT, 2.0, 2.5, 4.0 mM, and peak for VO2 were 22.3, 29.0, 31.0, 36.2, and 39.1 ml/kg.min-1, respectively; for velocity were 107.0, 128.9, 135.8, 152.8, and 164.4 m/min, respectively; and for HR were 142.1, 162.9, 169.4, 183.2, and 189.7 bts/min, respectively. The minimum intensity necessary for the majority of subjects to be above LT (n = 17) was 75% HR max while 90% HR max was required for the majority of subjects to be above 2.0 mM (n = 23) and 2.5 mM (n = 19). At 95% HR max 12 subjects were above 4.0 mM. For the majority of subjects to be above LT (n = 18), 55% HRR was necessary; 75%, 85%, and 95% HRR was required for the majority of subjects to be above 2.0 mM (n = 18), 2.5 mM (n = 19), and 4.0 mM (n = 20), respectively. For percent VO2peak, the intensities required for the majority of subjects to be above LT, 2.0 mM, 2.5 mM, and 4.0 mM were 55%, 75%, 80%, and 95% VO2peak, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)