A.I. BURNASYAN FMBC CLINICAL BULLETIN

ISSN 2782-6430 (print)

State Research Center −Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical
Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency

The journal is published in Russian.
Format – A4.
The periodicity of the journal is 4 times a year.

Issue №2, 2026

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A.I. Burnasyan  FMBC clinical bulletin. 2026 № 2

S.V. Nazarov1, A.S. Samoylov2, I.V. Kruglova1

An Overview of Modern Approaches to Assessing and Predicting IPC
and PWC Performance Among Athletes

1International Office, State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russiа

2Federal State Budgetary Budgetary Institution “Scientific Research Institute of Occupational Medicine named after Academician N.F.Izmerov”, Moscow, Russiа

Contact person: Nazarov  Sergey Victorovich: snazarov54@yandex.ru

 

Abstract
Background: assessing the functional state of athletes is a key task in sports medicine. Physical Working Capacity (PWC) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) are major markers of aerobic performance, yet their direct measurement is limited by methodological and practical constraints, stimulating the development of submaximal tests and predictive approaches.
Objective: to summarize current methods for assessing and predicting PWC and VO2max, including direct and indirect tests, laboratory and physiological indicators, biochemical and genetic markers, as well as statistical and machine-learning models.
Material and methods: an analytical review of national and international research was conducted, covering ergospirometry, submaximal tests (PWC170, Åstrand-Rhyming), field assessments, biomarkers, proteomics, genetics, and ML algorithms. Data from recreational athletes to elite performers were systematized
Results: PWC and VO2max were shown to depend on age, sex, sport type, training status, hemoglobin mass, iron stores, inflammatory markers, and recovery characteristics. Predictive accuracy improved when using neural networks, SVM, boosting models, and wearable sensor data, with several studies reporting high correlations (R=0,9) and errors below 3-5 ml/kg/min. Current limitations include a lack of studies involving elite athletes and insufficient longitudinal data.
Conclusions: existing methods provide effective assessment of athletes’ functional state, yet predictive precision remains constrained by limited high-level datasets. Integration of multifactorial data and development of specialized models for elite sports represent key future directions.

Keywords: functional state of athletes, physical working capacity (PWC), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), submaximal exercise tests, endurance biomarkers, machine learning in sports medicine, performance prediction models

For citation: Nazarov SV, Samoylov AS, Kruglova IV. An Overview of Modern Approaches to Assessing and Predicting IPC and PWC Performance Among Athletes. A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center Clinical Bulletin. 2026.2:23-35. (In Russian) DOI: 10.33266/2782-6430-2026-2-23-35

 

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financing. The study had no sponsorship.
Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.
Article received: 3.03.2026. Accepted for publication: 15.14.2026

© 2026 Scientific journal - "Clinical Bulletin of the FMBС im. A.I. Burnasyan"
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