VO₂reserve (VO₂R)

Just as the %HRR (also known as the Karvonen formula) can be used to determine the Target Heart Rate based on Heart Rate Reserve, it can be used to determine target VO₂ at a given percentage of Heart Rate Reserve (%HRR).

Percentage of VO₂ reserves is calculated the same as using the Karvonen Formula with heart rate:

KEY Formula Variables:
-- Maximum VO₂ (MVO₂)
-- Resting VO₂ (RVO₂) **Resting VO₂ =  1 MET or 3.5 mL·kg^-1·min^-1 
-- Percentage of VO₂ Reserve (%VO₂R)

The Formula:

Target VO₂ = ((MVO₂ - RVO₂) * %VO₂R) + RVO₂

To calculate 70% of VO_2reserve for a 20 year old:

• Calculation:

  • MVO₂ = 50 mL·kg^-1·min^-1

  • RVO₂ = 3.5 mL·kg^-1·min^-1

  • ((50 - 3.5) * 70%) + 3.5 = 36.05  mL·kg^-1·min^-1 
    ---or---
    ((50 - 3.5) * .7) + 3.5 = 36.05  mL·kg^-1·min^-1