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Home > PDHPE > Core 2 - Factors Affecting Performance > How does the body respond to aerobic training? > How does the body respond to aerobic training?

Answers

1. The ventilation rates for each athlete are as follows.
   
   • At 0 minutes the ventilation rate is approximately 13 litres/minute for both the trained and untrained athlete.
   • At 1 minute the ventilation rate is 100 litres/minute for the trained athlete compared with approximately 91 litres/minute for an untrained athlete
   • At 4 minutes the ventilation rate is approximately 136 litres/minute for the trained athlete compared with 110 litres/minute for the untrained athlete.
   • At +1 minute the ventilation rate is approximately 74 litres/minute for both the trained and untrained athlete.
   
   
   
2. Whilst the general shape of each line graph is similar, once exercise reaches maximal effort, a trained athlete’s ventilation rate is higher than that of an untrained athlete. This is indicated by the increasing space between the two line- graphs. Note the difference after one minute, and again at four minutes when exercise stops.
   
   Training has a number of effects on the body. Firstly, as people become fitter their ability to do work increases. This in turn increases the body’s demand for oxygen and the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced. Breathing is increased to aid in the delivery of oxygen to working muscles and to remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream.
   
   Lung volume will also increase slightly as a result of training. The muscles used in respiration allow for greater expansion and contraction of the lungs. Whilst this may be the case, the main reason for an increased ventilation rate in the trained athlete is the ability to use oxygen and the body’s corresponding response to the increase in the demand to provide oxygen.
   
   
3. The greater the amount of oxygen provided to the muscles, the greater the capacity of the muscles to do work. Ventilation rates reflect the amount of oxygen entering and being used by the body. The higher the level of ventilation, the greater the amount of work which can be performed by the muscles. Therefore, trained athletes can achieve higher levels of work.
   
   Aerobic training will also slightly increase lung volume. This aids in a significant increase in ventilation for an aerobically trained athlete.

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