Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the individual differences and the specificity in the response of maximal aerobic power (MAP) and capacity (MAC) to a 20-week aerobic training program. Twenty-four subjects (25+/-4 years), ascertained as sedentary, including 13 women and 11 men, participated in this study. MAP was determined with a progressive maximal ergocycle test, while MAC was computed as the total work output accomplished during a 90-min maximal ergocycle test. The aerobic training program enhanced mean MAP/kg and MAC/kg by 33 and 51 , respectively. Although MAP/kg response to training was similar in both sexes, there was a sex difference in the response of MAC/ kg, men improving 50 more than women. Individual differences in the response to the standardized training program were considerable with training gains ranging from 5 to 88 for MAP/kg and from 16 to 97 for MAC/kg. These results indicate that there is a sex difference in the trainability of aerobic capacity, but not of maximal aerobic power, under the same 20 week aerobic training program. Moreover, certain genotypes seem to be more sensitive to training than others. Verf.-Referat