Differences in Maximal Oxygen Uptake Between Non-Athlete Schreiner Female Students and Division III College Tennis Women

Authors

Iris J. Montero, Schreiner UniversityFollow
Kristen McAlexanderFollow

Abstract

Rates of obesity and physical inactivity continue to rise, particularly among women. PURPOSE: To measure the difference between maximal oxygen consumption between female NCAA Division III college athletes and female non-NCAA Division III athletes. METHODS: Voluntary, female NCAA Division III tennis athletes (N=9, M age=20.1 years) and female non-athletes (N=9, age= M 20.4 years) were recruited by the researcher in Spring 2019. Participants self-reported height and weight to calculate Body Mass Index (M=23.88 kg/m², SD=5.46 kg/m²) and completed the Queen’s College Step Test. Maximal oxygen consumption was determined using Katch and McCardle’s Queen College Step Test recovery heart rate predicted formula. RESULTS: An independent samples T-test determined that there was not a statistically significant difference (t=.068, df=16, p=.947) between athletes (M=37.41 ml/kg/min, SD=3.91 ml/kg/min) and non-athletes (M=37.57 ml/kg/min, SD=6.17 ml/kg/min). CONCLUSION: Although there was no statistically significant difference for maximal oxygen consumption between the athletes and non-athletes, average scores for both groups were classified as “fair”, per ACSM classifications for age and gender. Efforts to improve cardiorespiratory fitness should be considered for college athletes and non-athletes, particularly as rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease have increased among American adults.

Recommended Citation

Montero, Iris J. and McAlexander, Kristen (2020) "Differences in Maximal Oxygen Uptake Between Non-Athlete Schreiner Female Students and Division III College Tennis Women," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 12, Article 51.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss12/51