An Overview on Maximal Aerobic Speed: Assessment Methodologies and Practical Applications
Keywords:
Keywords: Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS), VO2max, training, training load, performance monitoring.Abstract
Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS), which can be defined as the lowest speed at which VO2max occurs, bridges the gap between laboratory gas analysis and applied athlete conditioning. This narrative review examines the methodological determination of MAS across laboratory and field settings, evaluating its advantages and critical limitations. MAS provides an objective, running economy-adjusted metric that standardizes physiological load, simplifies large sample testing, and refines high-intensity training prescriptions. However, practitioners must account for its key limitations. When integrated with biomechanical and anaerobic considerations, MAS serves as a robust, scalable framework for optimizing cardiorespiratory fitness and training load monitoring.
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