Responders and non-responders to aerobic exercise training: beyond the evaluation of V˙O2max

Abstract

The evaluation of the maximal oxygen uptake ( ${\dot{V}O}_{2max}$ ) following exercise training is the classical assessment of training effectiveness. Research has lacked in investigating whether individuals that do not respond to the training intervention ( ${\dot{V}O}_{2max}$ ), also do not improve in other health-related parameters. We aimed to investigate the cardiovascular and metabolic adaptations (i.e., performance, body composition, blood pressure, vascular function, fasting blood markers, and resting cardiac function and morphology) to exercise training among participants who showed different levels of ${\dot{V}O}_{2max}$ responsiveness. Healthy sedentary participants engaged in a 6-week exercise training program, three times a week. Our results showed that responders had a greater increase in peak power output, second lactate threshold, and microvascular responsiveness, whereas non-responders had a greater increase in cycling efficiency. No statistical differences were observed in body composition, blood pressure, fasting blood parameters, and resting cardiac adaptations. In conclusion, our study showed, for the first time, that in addition to the differences in the ${\dot{V}O}_{2max}$ , a greater increase in microvascular responsiveness in responders compared to non-responders was observed. Additionally, responders and non-responders did not show differences in the adaptations on metabolic parameters. There is an increasing need for personalized training prescription, depending on the target clinical outcome.

Keywords: cardiovascular; exercise training; health; responders.