A Comparison of Oxygen Uptake During Running in Children and Adults

A number of studies have compared the oxygen demands of running in children and adults (Astrand 1952; Rowland et al. 1987; Rowland and Green 1988; Unnithan and Eston 1990). These studies observed a higher oxygen uptake in children, expressed relative to body mass, at any given running speed. It has also been observed that the fractional utilisation of maximal oxygen uptake (% VO₂max)is also greater at any given speed (see Figs. 1 and 2). These differences have been attributed to a variety of biomechanical, ventilatory and cellular factors.