A Simple and Quick Method for Determination of Oxygen Debt Contracted During Physical Effort

Abstract

An attempt has been made to evolve a simple and quick method of oxygen debt estimation from moderate to heavy exercise. The fast and slow components of oxygen debt recovery curve are known to be exponential with respect to time, but with different velocity constants. In the present communication the resultant of the two components has been closely approximated by a single exponential function with respect to some fractional power of time leading to a composite oxygen recovery equation of the form Y= Ym[l — exp( — k√t) ]. It has been proposed to estimate oxygen debt for a period of 32 minutes with the help of this equation based on 2-minute and 8-minute observations of extra oxygen uptake in moderate to heavy exercise. This equation has been validated against 43 observations on 34 subjects at sea level and high altitude. Results demonstrate reasonably good predictions. A nomogram for calculating oxygen debt has also been worked out on the basis of the proposed equation. Suitability of the approach for oxygen debt determination during very severe forms of exercise has been discussed.