Watts Doc #20: The Fick Equation Part 1 - A VO2 Difference

Empirical Cycling Podcast · Watts Doc #20: The Fick Equation Part 1 - A VO2 Difference

Continuing the VO2max series, we take such a close look into the Fick equation we only cover one of its terms: the arterial-venous O2 difference.
We break apart the factors that affect diffusion of oxygen into our muscles, limiters of oxygen utilization, and whether these factors are trainable to potentially improve VO2max.

Show Notes
Determinants of endurance in well trained cyclists
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3403447/

Hemodynamic adaptations to exercise
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3993550/

One-legged endurance training: leg blood flow and oxygen extraction during cycling exercise
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22059600/

The Fick Equation:
VO2 = Cardiac Output (A-V O2 difference)

Rate of diffusion for a gas across capillary wall:
Flux=[DA(C1−C2)]/T

Fick's first law

Fick's second law