Limiting Factors Of Aerobic Capacity Of Youth Athletes In Different Sports

PURPOSE: To analyze the limiting factors of aerobic capacity in terms of oxygen uptake, oxygen transport, and oxygen utilization in adolescent athletes across different sports. METHODS: 585 youth athletes aged 16-18 (386 boys and 199 girls) were selected as participants. Based on the energy metabolism characteristics of their sports, they were divided into an aerobic group (long-distance running, cycling, and rowing) and a mixed-aerobic group (judo, boxing, wrestling). Participants' VO2peak was tested using a ramp-type incremental load exercise. Pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF25, FEF50, FEF75, FEF25-75, IC, PI), cardiac structure and function (IVSd, LVPWd, LVIDd, LVIDs, AoD, Las, E, DT, s’, e’, EDV, ESV, SV, LVM, EF, FS), and muscle oxygen utilization capacity (SmO2, tHb, BLA) were measured. Principal component analysis extracted principal components from these indices. Multiple regression analysis was conducted using the extracted principal components as independent variables and VO2peak as the dependent variable to explore physiological mechanisms affecting aerobic capacity. RESULTS: For youth athletes in aerobic sports, the limiting factors of VO2peak were cardiac structure, diastolic function, pulmonary function, muscle oxygen utilization capacity, and cardiac function, with adjusted R2 = 0.570. For youth athletes in mixed-aerobic sports, the limiting factors were mainly muscle oxygen utilization capacity, heart structure, and lung function, with adjusted R2 = 0.277. CONCLUSION: The limiting factors for aerobic capacity differ between youth athletes in different events. Oxygen transport capacity (systolic and diastolic capacity) is the primary factor causing differences in VO2peak between youth athletes in different spots. This Project Supported by the Fundamental Research Funds (23-13) for the China Institute of Sport Science. Test data of youth athletes in different sports - Group N FVC(L) FEV1(L) FEV1/FVC(%) PEF(L/s) FEF75(L/s) FEF50(L/s) FEF25(L/s) FEF25-75(L/s) IC(L) PIF(L/s) Pulmonary function aerobic 275 4.80±1.23 3.29±0.88 69.62±13.70 5.42±1.97 4.48±1.74 3.15±1.31 1.64±0.72 2.43±1.27 3.03±1.01 4.42±1.82 mixed-aerobic 300 4.31±1.16 2.99±0.83 70.63±13.75 4.93±1.76 4.04±1.57 2.88±1.20 1.55±0.69 2.16±1.16 2.57±0.78 3.65±1.37 IVSd (mm) LVIDd (mm) LVIDs (mm) LVPWd (mm) LVM (g) AoD (mm) LAs (mL) cardiac structure aerobic 226 8.87±1.71 48.34±5.67 30.35±4.14 9.12±1.96 154.85±55.52 27.61±3.41 34.51±4.12 mixed-aerobic 204 7.37±1.18 47.62±4.35 27.53±8.03 10.43±7.14 153.00±99.36 26.46±3.25 32.10±4.25 EDV (ml) ESV (ml) SV (ml/次) CO (L/min) EF (%) FS (%) HR (/min) Cardiac systolic function aerobic 276 110.54±25.74 37.69±10.08 72.89±18.75 4.49±1.21 66.00±4.63 36.72±3.38 62.33±10.02 mixed-aerobic 301 103.17±21.82 36.86±10.30 66.15±15.07 4.50±1.13 64.37±5.92 36.51±3.85 68.48±11.13 E (m/s) DT (s) s’ (m/s) e’ (m/s) E/e’ (%) Cardiac diastolic function aerobic 255 95.86±13.23 128.35±21.34 9.41±1.56 13.30±2.23 7.36±1.38 mixed-aerobic 243 95.31±16.22 132.43±26.39 9.15±1.65 14.12±2.34 6.90±1.59 SmO2d tHbrest tHbd BLAmax RBLA muscle oxygen utilization capacity aerobic 272 48.90±14.15 12.48±0.40 0.25±0.29 10.16±2.72 22.75±11.15 mixed-aerobic 267 51.09±15.70 12.38±0.40 0.33±0.32 10.61±3.23 26.35±11.61