ABSTRACT
The physiological determinants of successful endurance sport performance have been considered for many years. Aerobic fitness, otherwise known as cardiovascular fitness, is a broad term, and encompasses the main physiological determinants of performance. In sport and exercise settings, measuring an athlete’s cardiovascular fitness is a key tool when establishing the credentials for upcoming performances, and attempting to understand or explain previous performances. This is particularly so in sports where demonstrating superior aerobic fitness is a critical determinant in the performance and success of the athlete. The measurement and quantification of aerobic fitness can be conducted using various methods. Athletes that require direct and precise measurement of their aerobic fitness might choose to undergo a traditional laboratory assessment to establish a physiological profile, although “sport-specific” field-based estimates, such as the yo-yo intermittent recovery or multistage fitness test, are often employed by coaches in applied practice. The profile derived from assessment of an athlete’s aerobic fitness can be important to monitor conditioning levels, establish individualised training zones to allow for accurate training prescription and to evaluate the effectiveness of training interventions against desired outcomes.
