USE OF BLOOD-GAS ANALYSIS FOR THE EVALUATION OF LONG-TERM PHYSICAL EFFICIENCY IN LUMBERMEN

Performance capacity values were established during bicycle-ergometer exercise with 68 lumbermen. Accordingly the base excess in capillary blood increased by 4.5 and 2.5 mMol/l, against initial anaerobic and aerobic threshold values, respectively. In the 26-35 year age group, the anaerobic threshold was found to have average values of 187 W (ergometric load), related to an oxygen uptake of 36 ml/min per kg weight (81% of the aerobic capacity) and a heart frequency of 161 pulses/min. Corresponding values for the aerobic threshold were 150 W, 30 ml/min, 66% and 142 pulses/min. It is considered that the endurance working capacity of manual labourers can be better judged using the proposed blood-gas analysis, than by determination of the maximum oxygen uptake. © 1979 Springer-Verlag 1979.