Standard deviation of individual response for VO2max following exercise interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. [Dataset]

Abstract

Interest in individual response variability is growing. Within exercise science, this interest was prompted by the seminal demonstration of large inter-individual variability in observed changes in maximal aerobic capacity (maximal oxygen consumption [VO2max]) following 5 months of standardized exercise training. The presence of heterogeneity in observed responses is widely interpreted as evidence of inter-individual differences in exercise responsiveness, often referred to as trainability. However, this interpretation has been challenged due to its failure to consider measurement error (instrumentation error and day-to-day biological variability) and within-subject variability (WSV; chronic changes attributable to behavioral/environmental factors external to the intervention). Acknowledging the confounding influences of measurement error and WSV challenges the assumption that inter-individual differences in trainability exist or that any differences are practically meaningful. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist (for review and PRISMA details see the Supplemental Document, S1 and S2, in the electronic supplementary material). The study selection process was conducted using Covidence's systematic review software (Veritas Health Innovation, Australia). The literature search generated 32,968 studies. Covidence subsequently removed 15,084 duplicates. Of the 17,884 studies that entered title and abstract screening, only 4263 studies met criteria for full-text screening. We identified 848 studies that met the inclusion criteria. For the current sub-analysis, 24 of the 848 studies were included in the current analysis because 824 studies were deemed irrelevant. The major findings of the current systematic review with meta-analysis are as follows: (1) the SD of VO2max change scores in control and exercise groups suggests most of the variation in observed change scores at the end of the intervention is due to measurement error and (2) analyses of SDIR do not provide adequate evidence to support the existence of meaningful variability in VO2max trainability following a single intervention.

Citation

RENWICK, J.R.M., PREOBRAZENSKI, N., WU., Z., KHANSARI, A., LEBOUEDEC, M.A., NUTTALL, J.M.G. BANCROFT, K.R., SIMPSON-STAIRS, N., SWINTON, P.A. and GURD, B.J. 2024. Standard deviation of individual response for VO2max following exercise interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. [Dataset]. Sports medicine [online], 54(2), pages 3069-3080. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-024-02089-y#Sec21

• Acceptance Date: Jul 29, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Aug 19, 2024
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 6, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 20, 2025
• Publisher: Springer
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02089-y
• Keywords: Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2742185
• Related Public URLs: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2422903 (Journal article)
• Collection Date: Jul 29, 2024
• Collection Method: We will search PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus to source relevant articles using two main terms: VO2max and exercise training. These two concepts will be combined with "AND". Synonyms for each of the two main terms will be combined with "OR". Searches will be conducted on a single day following registration on OSF. The search strategies that will be used are uploaded to this registration. Inclusion criteria: studied human participants aged 18 and older, measured VO2max (or peak) using indirect calorimetry, reported absolute VO2max (or relative values if body weight was also reported), reported mean and SD or SE of VO2max at baseline and post-training or could be extracted/calculated, details regarding the sample size and training protocol (duration, frequency, rest periods, interval length, etc.) were either reported or could be extracted/calculated, involved a supervised and consistent aerobic exercise training program. Exclusion criteria: unmet inclusion criteria, non-English, previously presented published VO2max data, not an original research article, data available for only aerobic training combined with strength training and/or a non-exercise intervention. Covidence® will be used to facilitate screening and full-text review. Authors will independently screen titles and abstracts of studies. Abstracts and titles retrieved will be assessed using the inclusion/exclusion criteria outlined above by at least two authors. Full-text review of eligible studies will be conducted independently by at least two authors. Unresolved disagreements will be resolved by a third author.
• Additional Information: Registration of this project can be found on the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/X9VU3).