Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 16

Describe the underlying causes of the decrease in VO₂ max that occurs with cessation of endurance training.

Step 1 of 2

The physiological adaptations that take place during endurance training gradually subside and come down to normal if an individual discontinues exercise training. When training is stopped, VO₂ max decreases gradually. This is due to the fact that maximal cardiac output and oxygen extraction from blood decrease over time with detraining.