SPECIAL COMMUV.-.CATIONS A Nomogram for Cdcdation of Aerobic Capacity (Physical Fitness) From P&se Rate Daring Stlbmaximal Work

ANY TIMES it is of interest to know the M Wahlund (4) in his investigation of men of variindividual’s capacity for muscular work, ous physical fitness (athletes, normal healthy men, e*g*, when selecting people for special people with heart or respiratory troubles) found a tasks in military service’or in industrial work, or fairly constant mechanical efficiency when his subwhen controlling the physical condition of athletes. jects were working on a bicycle ergometer. Thus Furthermore, a reduction of this capacity is often the oxygen intake could be indirectly estimated the first sign of a disease. from work load within a range of l tS% in twoThe individual’s capacity (or fitness) for heavy thirds of the cases. The results reported by Astrand prolonged muscular work will first of all be dependent on the supply of oxygen to the working muscles. In types of work which engage large groups of muscles the limiting factor for the maxima1 oxygen intake (aerobic capacity) will probably be the capacity and regulation of the oxygentransporting system. pulse rate