Cardiorespiratory and aerobic demands of squat exercise

Squatting, a traditional resistance exercise classified as strength training, relies on anaerobic pathways, but its aerobic aspects remain unclear. We examined heart rate and oxygen demand during squats, exploring variations across different strength statuses. It fills gaps in understanding the cardiorespiratory effects of squatting, especially during multiple sets. Twenty-two young healthy resistance trained men (age: 28 ± 4 years) participated. Maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O₂max) and 1 repetition maximum (RM) of squat were measured. Participants performed 5 sets of squat exercises at 65% of 1RM for 10 repetitions with 3-min rest intervals. Heart rate and pulmonary gas exchange were measured during the squat exercise. Participants were divided into high strength (HS; upper 50%) and low strength (LS; lower 50%) groups based on a median split of their 1 RM squat values (normalized to their body weight). During 5 sets of squat exercise, oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) increased up to 47.8 ± 8.9 ml/kg/min, corresponding to 100.6% of predetermined V̇O₂max. The HS group achieved a greater highest point of V̇O₂ in relation to V̇O₂max than the LS group (108.0 vs. 93.7%). During the exercise intervals, V̇O₂ exceeded V̇CO₂, while during the rest intervals, V̇CO₂ surpassed V̇O₂. Our findings suggest that the oxygen demand during squatting is notably substantial, which may vary according to the training status.