VERSACLIMBING ELICITS HIGHER VO2MAX THAN DOES TREADMILL RUNNING OR ROWING ERGOMETRY

Collegiate varsity oarswomen and coxswain (N = 11) completed maximal a erobic exercise tests on a treadmill, a rowing ergometer, and a simula ted climbing machine. Successful completion of each test was evidenced by a plateau in oxygen consumption in response to increasing work rat es. VO2max (1.min(-1)), and minute ventilation (V-E, 1.min(-1)) at VO2 max were significantly greater (P < 0.05) during simulated climbing co mpared to treadmill funning and rowing ergometry. Maximal heart rate ( beats.min(-1)) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) during climbing an d running than during rowing. Findings indicate that progressive, incr emental, whole-body climbing exercise elicits significantly greater VO 2max values for collegiate oarswomen and coxswain than does graded tre admill running or progressive rowing ergometry.