VO2 and Oxygen Consumption Explained for Beginners | Corporis

Hey you know that oxygen you’re breathing right now? Pretty great, right? Well at some point it goes somewhere and when we exercise, it goes mostly to your muscles. In this video, you’ll learn about oxygen consumption during exercise, VO2, VO2max, and the Fick equation as it’s applied to exercise physiology.
☠️NONE OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD BE USED AS MEDICAL ADVICE OR OPINION. IT IS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT☠️
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A full annotated, fact checked version of the script can be found here: / fact-checked-for-38970327
💊A B O U T 💊
Hi, I’m Patrick. I’m a freelance science writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and a master’s in clinical exercise physiology. I used to work in the clinical setting as a certified athletic trainer, physical therapy aide, and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. After working in the clinical setting, I went back to school and became a teacher. The goal of my content is to help normal people, not just pre-med students, learn about the human body. That might mean explaining a topic from an anatomy class or exploring a topic from medical history.
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If you’d like to sponsor a video or have other business inquiries:
patkellyteaches [at] gmail.com
#corporis #anatomy #medicalhistory

[@Corporis]

For those of you who didn't know what that little ghost creature at the sushi bar was, allow me to recommend Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli. Also, you haven't seen Spirited Away?! What're you doing with your life?!

[@apocalypse487]

It's on HBO Max if anyone wants to see it.

[@Corporis]

Apocalypse487 In the US, yes! Finally! I think other countries can stream those films on Netflix

[@apocalypse487]

@@Corporis That's correct. I just verified Canada and the UK. It's on Netflix there.

[@radicaltrafficcone8284]

I never thought spirited away would help me understand cardio vascular fitness but here it is and it somehow works

[@ronaldlattuf5837]

The way this video explains the concept of VO2 is outstanding. Sticks to the essential, makes great use of storytelling and metaphors which facilitate understanding, and visualises formulas and graphs for added ease of understanding. 10 out of 10! Subscribed and liked :)

[@WestCParallel49]

I agree. I was actually surprised at how well the video explained the topic. Good on yall.

[@vincentdobbe1944]

Agree, well visualised, I 'm ready for the next step of vo2 measurement

[@hpndn2011]

Great information! I'm an exercise physiologist and a Lifetime Trainer. I love your explanation and direction of your video! I train endurance athletes and they ask questions which I'm currently ineffective at explaining through laymen's terms. I'm happy with your permission to forward this video.

[@bobbyfr911]

I usually just watch and don't comment too frequently. But I felt like I needed to say that this channel is so high quality and it fuels my curiosity and my desire to learn more. Keep up the great work

[@Corporis]

Heck yes, so stoked to hear it. Thanks for the kind words

[@darjeeling7524]

This was so incredibly well explained, thank you.

[@Jgjginkg244]

Thank you very kindly!! This video is making difference in people lives in very good way!!

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Power STATION!! 😂😂

[@Corporis]

Medlife Crisis You and Bernard have destroyed my mental image of mitochondria. You for the power station and him for making it meme ☝️

[@PG-cl7zp]

What video was that in? I’m trying to find it

[@Corporis]

@@PG-cl7zp It's called "Ghost in the cells"

[@LenkaSaratoga]

Just what I needed! Thank you, Sir 💚👍

[@bartekkrzywicki2507]

Super useful!! All measurements and vidoes about VO2 more than welcome to

[@aryac5599]

Thanks for the concise explanation

[@abdullahkokandi7825]

Fantastic explanation, thank you.

[@rexorais1851]

Yo dude sick video I’ve been binge watching a lot of videos

[@Corporis]

What's up Rex!

[@alFeras_tell]

I love your intro - I have subscribed hoping I can improve my breath holds and co2 tolerance. Thank u

[@JoshuaPhua]

this is the best explainer on youtube

[@virgiliovargas3052]

Extremely informative

[@thomasrobertfitness]

Great, informative video! SUBSCRIBED 👌

[@iminkindergarten]

That was a great video thank you

[@koffygrl98]

thank you for the Spirited Away animation!

[@V8dadmartin]

This explains why my smoker lungs perform well, my cardio usually involves gassing myself out with a steady pace and sprinting for as long as I can with controlled breathing

[@shuttles69]

Thank you for video.

[@ramoschris0131]

Great video, especially the Ghibli animation.

[@nikeeparekh9941]

The ghost and sushi example made it much easier to understand how oxygen consumption works! Thanks :)

[@Corporis]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nikevisor54]

Yet another fantastic video! Nonstop information in an easily digestible format, even for non-science students. Thanks for all that you do to keep us learning, Patrick :)

[@Corporis]

I got you fam. Thanks for the kind words

[@honeygoseyney2421]

i am studying gerontology and gosh I hate biology, but i have a module on physical activity and I need to understand this concepts. this video has helped me a lot!

[@Ramonet3000]

Thanks 🙏🏾

[@sidkhatavkar340]

you did good.

[@enriqueDFTL]

Yes! More these pls. Any of the related topics you mentioned would be awesome!

[@Corporis]

You got it!

[@yogabeyondyoga]

Excellent commentary, thank you. Very clearly explained.

[@katelynizaks24]

Hi there could you do a video on the different factors which influence your VO2 max, like genetics, endurance training....etc

[@tisorena]

Hiya, a video on submax GXTs to estimate vO2 would be interesting!

[@chicnoir29]

What are Kipchoge, Bekele, Tiranish and Genzebe Dibaba’s VO2max?

[@williamgerlach6875]

Affect of altitude training on V02max would be great!

[@prajaygiri18]

I'd love to see the video on how and why you calculate VO2 Also would like to know if there is any other method to measure our cardio-respiratory fitness at home... (I mean, not exact measure but just a rough idea about that) Thanks 👍

[@Maribelgmnv]

I would say you would have to start by learning how to measure your own heart rate and would suggest other fitness tests to give you a rough estimate and to research such as a stair test or rockport one mile walk test

[@gameboom4ever640]

hello brother, thanks a lot for the vid, I have a question though: I go running almost everyday and i use my samsung watch4 for recording my exercise, my Vo2 recorded is always low, since i started my training (says 36.5 & percent VO2 max = 42%) what should I do?

[@TheDeathopper]

Great video! Would love a video about VO2 adaptation, that sounds pretty interesting.

[@Corporis]

TheDeathopper Stoked to hear it. I’m leaning in that direction for the next ExPhys video

[@doggods]

do the body has a determined number of mitocondrias or they increase with demand due to exercise?

[@EricaDiebold]

Great video, thank you! I had open heart surgery at 25 years old and have been trying to understand the cardiac alerts my Apple Watch gives me. It’s amazing to compare the numbers before and after my surgery. But two years after my surgery, my vo2max has been dropping instead of raising. It’s been around 23 this week. I have been learning so much about hearts and have been trying to figure out what’s going on

[@christalcavanaugh]

Yeah I haven’t had surgery and mine is around there too so I’m not sure what that’s about!

[@stockstudy8633]

Hi Erica, how do you measure vo2max? Thanks!Shan

[@EricaDiebold]

@@stockstudy8633 on my Apple watch

[@Aragorn.Strider]

I have recently bought a Wahoo package (for cycling) which comes with a heart rate monitor. It gives lots and lots of data. Max heart rate, rest heart rate, heart rate zones etc. Can you explain things a bit from your perspective ? What I should look for? What is a good rate ? Things I should or should not do etc. Thanks

[@jaqueshagen5750]

@corporis Do you know of any studies comparing lab-tested VO2 max to the estimated tests for VO2 max? For PE we have the cooper test, walked mile, mile, and pacer test to estimate a student's VO2 max. I'd love to know if we have studies showing how accurate they are compared to the lab test. Thanks.

[@MMichiganSalveRegina]

Can you make a video about how V02M training works physiologically?

[@remy1502]

Are there ways to increase mitochondria or stroke volume?

[@whocares_bear]

How do you test VO2 and how do you improve it through exercise?

[@Ricardoliv22]

Great explanation! \But i didnt understand the part where you say stroke volume plateaus at 120 beats per minute? BPM is the unit for heart rate no?

[@RealMTBAddict]

My cycling VO2 is 54 and my running VO2 is 52. Just got a smart trainer so that will probably increase even further.

[@gustavovizcardo7301]

Hey, great video! Thanks a lot for the effort, this flows very smooth! - Might be interesting to se the calculations! Cheers,

[@rukivithanage3157]

Hi Patrick, I'm a man in early fifties. I do cycling as a hobby. I usually have 170bpm during 2 hr intese ride let's say 30Km/h. Is this bpm bad for my heart longevity? Although BPM is high, I feel okay and I'm used to it.

[@alexxgonzales3052]

Super helpful video, thanks Patrick!! :) P.S. Currently taking an exercise physiology class so I really needed this, haha.

[@stockstudy8633]

Hi Master, How did you eat, sleep with oxygen while you were in grad school?

[@Jason-Evans]

Super informative & very well explained. The nod to Spirited Away was appreciated as well. Well done!

[@AdrianColley]

I'd like to know if a VO2 measurement can be a routine thing. Fingertip oximeters can collect part of the required data through an optical trick, but what else is needed?

[@Corporis]

Million dollar question right there. I know some of the smart watches are able to estimate relative VO2 based on running speed and heart rate response, but obviously that isn't perfect. Ultimately if we want to find VO2, we need to collect samples of the air breathed in by the patient and be able to analyze air breathed out by the patient. I haven't found any data regarding how accurate smart watch estimates are though. If you find anything, email me!

[@neilveitch5761]

Great video. The clearest most easily understandable explanation of VO2 i've come across. I'm a 69 yr old cyclist always seeking to improve.

[@Westernkoala]

How reliable are fitbits that calculate this?

[@pianosage]

great video! I'm assuming cardio is the best (only?) way to improve our VO2 number. Are some exercises better for this?

[@Corporis]

Nick Rodgerson Ohh man, this comment could be an entire video. Interestingly enough, the right kind of strength training program and conditions can elicit VO2 max improvements. Here’s an open access review I found: link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11556-013-0120-1

[@pghparkins]

@@Corporis I vote for this being the next video then ;) As a slovenly dude who just started jogging, I am hoping that is a good path towards improving VO2 max.

[@pianosage]

​@@Corporis I'd love to see it! Thanks for the resource. Btw, I absolutely love your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@dontbetrayyourself2786]

I would really love to see a video how exactly you measure VO2 - what the different methods are and if the VO2 which a smartwatch shows can be accurate! btw. loved that video

[@Corporis]

I'm super interested in the Smartwatch accuracy too. My preliminary research is coming up with more information regarding the Garmin watches than Fitbit or Apple watch. I might need to pull some strings to get Apple info

[@dontbetrayyourself2786]

​@@Corporis lucky for me a have a Garmin watch, but it would be definitely interesting to be able to compere which is the best

[@evanjohnson4559]

I’m curious about this too!

[@bubcat54]

Saunas effect on increasing v02, over exercise?

[@HasanAlKharfan]

What about respiratory exchange rate and the "lactate wall"

[@bonumonu5534]

I would love a video about how to improve this vo2 number! I exercise my muscle strength but when it comes to running or any kind of aerobic exercise I’m dead in 2 mins. Last time I tried to train my heart by running I killed my knees☹️

[@Corporis]

#1 Sorry to hear about your knees. But #2, that brings up an interesting point. If someone's knees (or ankles, hips, whatever) is the limiting factor in a cardiorespiratory fitness test, their VO2 wasn't accurately measured. So how do exercise scientists measure fitness in those situations?

[@d0lph982]

You should try running extremely slowly at first and stretch before and after running. When I started I was running at about 6km/h. (Roughly 2.5/3miles/h) Try apps that take you to 5k, they have running and walking alterations so you're not constantly out of breath.

[@zahraasadpour520]

Greattttt

[@nitinhadale1519]

Hi can you please make a video of techniques use to measure Vo2 Max

[@Corporis]

Thanks for chiming in! This one seems to be the popular one right now

[@JRC_86]

Thank you for going into detail about this topic. My Garmin Connect app has calculated that my VO2 max is 56, which it says is in the top 5% of all males in my age group. I'm a 36 year old endurance cyclist that has been riding a little less than three years.

[@hailedagmawi8109]

Thanks to you and my G-shock that lead me to you now I know my Vo2 max is shit. Even if it’s easier said than done Got To Exercise

[@matthewwagner4458]

Great video! I didn't know that VO2max was strongly associated with heart disease.

[@Corporis]

Thank you. Another one of those reasons to celebrate exercise and movement!

[@Feyrablue]

how do i increase my v02 (exercises)

[@ivandelgado2231]

What happens when you do exercise while vo2 testing would be a good video .. I’m 54 and me vo2 max is 48 currently

[@sonsoftheedelweiss72]

How do we calculate vo2 max?

[@gowthamloganathan8807]

Could you please make the video on how to measure VO2? Please and thank you!

[@Corporis]

You got it!

[@IndigoUltra]

What is a normal MET and is it easy to go up 1 MET? Or is that a depends on where you start thing?

[@Corporis]

MET stands for metabolic equivalent and it's another way of measuring workload / exercise intensity. I'll go into more details in a future video about "how easy" it is to improve (because ohh boy, that's a loaded question!) but normal values can be found as tables of age and sex. Searching "normal MET level" table ought to bring it up

[@johnmora9410]

Thanks Patrick this is very helpful. I had no idea that they were physiology in sports sciences. I’m trying to lose weight more importantly subcutaneous fat I need to figure out how that all works. I’m gonna subscribe to your channel and wait for something to come out for at least look around. Thank you.

[@danglybit1]

Great Vo2 analogy ...off to the sushi bar to explain tot the over-weight sedentary sushi-chef🤣

[@spookygreg]

Not super related to this, but a Hannibal react video would be fun! It’s on Netflix now

[@Corporis]

Lol, definitely not relate to this video, but a handful of people have recommended that series to me

[@wilurbean]

Isn't the Fick Eqn the gas diffusion along with first and second order Diff Eqs

[@insightgx4421]

Id like to see how this relates to RER, RQ, and weight loss applications

[@Corporis]

Perfect. I'm planning a spirometry video for the spring, so RER and RQ would be a logical followup

[@chuckanddawnm8369]

Very helpful video! Trying to understand this and I do not have a “science and math brain” thank you!

[@Ordinary-Hendrik]

Thanks for your presentation! Could I say rising of Vo2max decreases the epoc ? Thanks !

[@andreamcpherson6409]

I would love to see a video especially related to VO2 max aerobic activity and the older adult

[@danielmsz]

What things/stimuli cause the most impact on Vo2max for the better?

[@Corporis]

Long story short: challenging cardio exercise. Obviously that comes with a lot of nuance and context to it. I like your question and will probably turn it into a video

[@jojobovine4279]

Something you didn't mention - and I don't even know if it's a factor in VO2 - lungs. You mentioned heart rate, stroke volume. What about breathing rate, or how efficiently lungs feed oxygen to blood, and extract carbon dioxide from it? Does it even matter? Maybe that's not the focus because it's hard to change lung efficiency? Your videos are always great.

[@Corporis]

There's a good reason for not mentioning them in this video (and actually, this could be another video). Lung disease aside, the ability of our lungs to shuffle oxygen into circulation isn't a limiting factor in oxygen consumption. Like for a healthy person, we have more than enough oxygen to pluck from the air with each breath. The more I answer, the more I think I should do a video about "why don't we train our lungs"?

[@mattmcfall4970]

It totally matters! It’s measurable and trainable!

[@markdunn1931]

I'm a little confused, I would like to know good workouts, exercises to increases the VO2. Cheers...

[@RealMTBAddict]

Workouts that push your system to the max

[@xandervanwyk3232]

Great video🙌 On an unrelated note… are you related to Rob Dahm 😅

[@M3G4FR34K]

4:36 idk if you're still reading your comments but what did you mean "stroke volume plateaus at 120 bpm"? I'm confused considering stroke volume measures... well volume, but you're using bpm as the measurement here.

[@Corporis]

This is a good question -- you're correct that bpm measures HR, not stroke volume. I was trying to say that stroke volume will increase as heart rate increases, but only up to around the point when HR = 120bpm. Apologies for the confusion.

[@oscarrue1]

I have cardiomyopathy. My VO2 is 18. I’m 45, but feel like 80. Sucks, but I’m still here.

[@gobil5274]

Yea, I made it 2:30 when ADD kicked in. I think the Beginner version can be done in less than 2 min.

[@xXNinjaBetaXx]

Does an Elevation Training Mask Improve VO2 Max? I’ve been reading a lot of credible scientific articles but they all seem conflicting. I can’t seem to find a definitive conclusion.

[@xXNinjaBetaXx]

Curiosity Hound Curiosity Hound But the end goal is to decrease the effort of hemoglobin used and carry more O2 correct? And it would eventually depend on the type of workout

[@RealMTBAddict]

No

[@sudharsanvj8531]

Why can't low VO2max indicate that the tissues are working so efficiently that even while excercising the tissues are not getting too much hungry for oxygen ? If that's the case, then it is a positive sign right, the tissues being very fuel efficient ?!

[@aloeveraislifehelenenilsso345]

My doctor says that my vo2 goes down because i only walk. I am a little bit worried about my vo2 goes down. 😢

[@user-cy3kb2vn8s]

In my gym. Most people work out with a trainer. Or have previously worked with a personal trainer. There is a chalkboard where people list the amount of weight they have lifted. I suppose it's to see who are the strongest males and females in the gym. I didn't see anyone posting their RHR, and Vo2max. Seems to me those are the ultimate markers a gym should be tracking. I am 66, and both my RHR and Vo2max are 53. I've done HIIT training, and speed walking. I developed my own training routine I target the RHR, and vo2max. Not total weight, repetitions, speed, hypertrophy, or definition. I'm seeking the capacity to perform both harder, and longer. Also, to extend my life. Why don't gyms, fitness experts, and doctors emphasize RHR, and Vo2max? Improvement in those markers for our general population would improve our society. As opposed to things which definitely are signs of fitness from a visual perspective. The numbers matter more Why aren't more people talking about them?

[@AEVMU]

Because almost everyone in a gym is there to be more sexually attractive, or athletic for a specific activity, but not to be more overtly healthy.

[@dr.mohamedaitnouh4501]

I have a garmin watch VO2 max of 54 is garmin accurate?

[@RealMTBAddict]

Yes

[@nodztheartist1060]

I am very active, taking about 20,000 steps a day on average, only 21, and my VO2 max is 25. My apple watch always gives me a notification for low vo2 max and I am very worried

[@RealMTBAddict]

Sorry but walking does not increase VO2. You need to workout to your maximum level.

[@beachbum77979]

I'd like to know more about VO2. I know very little about physiology. I took chemistry and physics and taught SCUBA many years ago. So, my understanding of gas is that for a given mass, the volume depends on temperature and pressure. Standard temperature and pressure is a thing. So if you want to know how much of a substance you have, mass is the thing to measure. If you want to use volume, you have to know the density. I am new to your channel. I like learning new things. So, if you could make a video explaining how VO2 is measured, and why it's volume, not mass of O2, I'd watch. I did subscribe recently, with notifications. Thanks for creating what to me is interesting content...

[@Corporis]

beachbum77979 You’re on the right track for sure! A modern exercise physiology lab looks different, but decades ago, physiologists would collect expired air in a bag and weigh it to do these calculations. When I was in grad school, they made us measure VO2max like that once just to watch us suffer. Needles to say, it’s easier with modern equipment!

[@beachbum77979]

@@Corporis Thanks for your reply. It was decades ago when I did much studying. But I haven't given up on learning. I'd love to see a video about how it was measured then and how it's measured now. The math doesn't scare me. Again, Thanks...

[@hasithacoolyoutub100]

Ta 💛💛💛💛

[@TheSteve1024]

add about for aging

[@mattmcfall4970]

why no mention of VCo2? no mention of breathing effect on VO2/Vco2? none of the "measurement" methods mentioned take these fundamentals into consideration...They are not separable

[@jebby16]

Back in early 2021, covid wrecked my vo2 max pretty much overnight by 4 points.

[@lahari2780]

Is there a relation between vo2 and muscle action potential?

[@s.bsivagurunathan3295]

😍👍

[@Corporis]

siva guru Thank you for your kind gift of emoji, here’s a shark: 🦈

[@s.bsivagurunathan3295]

@@Corporis tnx bro

[@AceHardy]

🏋🏽‍♀️🔥

[@Corporis]

💪

[@jamingym]

Man keep it simple for slows like me… couldn’t understand anything

[@multivariateperspective5137]

Can you do a video on Berberines effect on VO2max? Check out dr mobeen lectures stuff on Berberine

[@paulhowarth4289]

I had mine tested when I was 35, it was 71