Maximal accumulated oxygen deficit of resistance-trained men.

The primary purpose of the study was to compare maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) in resistance-trained (RT), endurance-trained (ET), and untrained men (UT). A secondary purpose was to determine the influence of leg muscle mass (MM) on MAOD by examining the relationship between MM and MAOD and by comparing MAOD expressed relative to MM between the groups. MAOD was determined during 2-4 min of constant-load fatiguing cycling. MM, estimated via anthropometric measurements, was higher (p < .05) for RT (mean +/- SE; 25.5 +/- 3.4 kg) compared to ET (20.3 +/- 3.5) and UT (21.6 +/- 3.4). MAOD in liters O2eq was larger in RT (4.75 +/- 0.3) compared to UT (3.07 +/- 0.3) and ET (3.75 +/- 0.3). A significant positive correlation was observed between MAOD (LO2eq) and MM (kg) for RT only (RT, r = .85; ET, r = .55; UT, r = .20). Based on the correlational and mean MM data, the higher MAOD (LO2eq) in RT relative to ET and UT is predominantly the result of their larger leg muscle mass.