Oxygen steadystate

An oxygen steady state is defined as the balance between oxygen uptake and oxygen consumption (cf. Engels, MD, Neumann, 2000). An oxygen steady state prevails in every human being – trained or untrained – at an exercise intensity of less than 50% of the maximum oxygen uptake.

During normal, quiet breathing, approximately one-tenth of the air present in the lungs is exchanged with each breath. Oxygen steady state occurs during everyday exertion and, depending on training status, during endurance exertion.