Association Between Lower Limb Strength and VO₂max in Recreational Runners

Abstract

Background: Participation in recreational running has increased in Indonesia, but evidence on the relationship between lower limb muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance remains limited.
Objective: To determine the association between lower limb muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance among recreational runners in Denpasar, Bali.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 57 recreational runners from the Urban Stride Bali community. Lower limb muscle strength was measured using a leg dynamometer, while cardiovascular endurance was assessed using the Cooper 12-Minute Run Test and estimated VO₂max. Data were analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation.
Results: Mean lower limb muscle strength was 66.82 ± 28.58 kg, while mean VO₂max was 47.52 ± 14.27 ml/kg/min. A very strong positive association was found between lower limb muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance (rₛ = 0.833; 95% CI: 0.726–0.902; p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Lower limb muscle strength was strongly associated with cardiovascular endurance in recreational runners. However, the cross-sectional design and lack of assessment of potential confounders, including body composition and training history, limit causal interpretation.