exercise physiology experiment was in the early 1770's. The test was conducted by Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, who was the very first person to conduct experiments on human respiration. The protocol involved the heart rate and O2 consumption being measured as the seated subject was breathing through a copper pipe while pressing a foot pedal to increase the external workload. (McArdle, Katch & Katch, 2001, p. xxix).
             Following this, a man by the name of William Prout experimented with CO2 levels during exercise performing to fatigue. This was during the early 1800's and although no exact amounts could be extracted from the experiments due to the fact there were no instruments to measure respiration rate, reliable assumptions were made which have proved in modern days to be true. (McArdle, Katch & Katch, 2001, p. xxx).
             A scientist by the name of C.G. Douglas worked together with a man named J.S. Haldane to reveal the role of O2 and lactic acid in the control of breathing during exercise. Gas collection bags made of canvas and rubber were used to collect gases expired during exercise. (Powers & Howley, 2001, p. 4). After the gas was collected it was then analysed for O2 and CO2 by use of a manually operated chemical analyser. Calculations of O2 uptake were then made using a slide rule. It would take 20-30 minutes of effort by at least 1 lab personal to analyse a single minute of collected air. (Wilmore & Costill, 1999, p. 6). This is a process we are able to do with little effort and time taken today.
             During 1927 the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory opened which was primarily involved in research and experiments regarding many areas of exercise physiology, including VO2max testing. (Powers & Howley, 2001, p. 4). The lab was closed in 1947 and most of the students trained there went on to become world leaders in exercise physiology. (Wilmore & Costill, 1999, p. 7).
             In 1947 a micrometer gas analyser was developed by Per Scholander...