MAXIMAL OXYGEN-UPTAKE, MAXIMAL VOLUNTARY ISOMETRIC CONTRACTION AND PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY IN YOUNG DANISH ADULTS

In a randomly selected sample of 88 men and 115 women, aged 23-27 year s from Denmark. maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), maximal voluntary isom etric contraction (MVC) in four muscle groups and physical activity we re studied. The VO2max was 48.0 ml.min-1.kg-1 and 39.6 ml.min-1.kg-1 f or the men and the women, respectively. The MVC was 10% lower than in a comparable group of Danes of the same age and height studied 35 year s ago. Only in men was sports activity directly related to VO2max (ml. min-1.kg-1; r=0.31, P<0.01). The MVC of the knee extensors was related to VO2max in the men (r=0.31, P<0.01), but there was no relationship between the other measurements of MVC and VO2max. In the women VO2max (ml.min-1.kg-1) was only related to body size, i.e. body mass index, p ercentage body fat and body mass [(r= -0.47, -0.48 (both P<0.001) and -0.34 (P<0.01), respectively)]. There were differences in VO2max in th e men, according to education and occupation. Blue collar workers and subjects attending vocational or trade schools in 1983 had lower VO2ma x, and more of them were physically inactive. In the women differences were also found, but there was no clear pattern among the groups. Mor e of the women participated regularly in sports activity, but more of the men were very active compared to the women.