Allometric modelling of peak oxygen uptake in male soccer players of 8–18 years of age

Abstract Background: Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is routinely scaled as mL O2 per kilogram body mass despite theoretical and statistical limitations of using ratios. Aim: To examine the contribution of maturity status and body size descriptors to age-associated inter-individual variability in VO2peak and to present static allometric models to normalize VO2peak in male youth soccer players. Subjects and methods: Total body and estimates of total and regional lean mass were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in a cross-sectional sample of Portuguese male soccer players. The sample was divided into three age groups for analysis: 8–12 years, 13–15 years and 16–18 years. VO2peak was estimated using an incremental maximal exercise test on a motorized treadmill. Static allometric models were used to normalize VO2peak. Results: The independent variables with the best statistical fit explained 72% in the younger group (lean body mass: k = 1.07), 52% in mid-adolescent players (lean body mass: k = 0.93) and 31% in the older group (body mass: k = 0.51) of variance in VO2peak. The inclusion of the exponential term pubertal status marginally increased the explained variance in VO2peak (adjusted R2 = 36–75%) and provided statistical adjustments to the size descriptors coefficients. Conclusion: The allometric coefficients and exponents evidenced the varying inter-relationship among size descriptors and maturity status with aerobic fitness from early to late-adolescence. Lean body mass, lean lower limbs mass and body mass combined with pubertal status explain most of the inter-individual variability in VO2peak among youth soccer players.