Over a decade of clinical research in respiratory physiology applied to elite sport. Every claim is backed by independently reviewed, published data.
741
CPET Tests Performed
5+
Peer-Reviewed Papers
10
Years of Research
4
International Journals
Publications
A decade of published research
From the first systematic study on ventilatory response in elite football to the validation of a wearable device — a chronological journey through our science.
Di Paco A, Laveneziana P, Onorati P, Trotta L, Boccia G.
Biology of Sport, 2025;42(2):199–206
The largest published CPET dataset in elite football. This landmark study established normative VO₂peak, maximal exercise velocity (MEV), and ventilatory threshold values across 741 cardiopulmonary exercise tests performed on Italian Serie A players over an entire decade. The analysis revealed significant effects of playing position on aerobic capacity — with midfielders showing higher VO₂peak values — and documented seasonal variations in cardiorespiratory fitness. These normative values serve as the reference standard for fitness assessment and return-to-play decisions in professional football.
The foundational validation study for the Oxypeak wearable device. This study compared respiratory frequency measurements from the proprietary chest strap — which detects chest wall expansion during breathing — against medical-grade breath-by-breath gas exchange analysis (the gold standard) during incremental maximal exercise protocols. Tested on 26 elite Serie A players, the results demonstrated that the wearable provides reliable respiratory frequency estimation even during high-intensity exercise, making it the first scientifically validated device to bring pulmonary monitoring from the laboratory to the training ground.
N = 26 athletesWearable ValidationRespiratory FrequencyGold-Standard Comparison
Di Paco A, Mazzoleni S, Vitacca M, Comini L, Ambrosino N.
Pulmonology, 2022;28(2):148–151
A timely clinical application of the CPET methodology during the pandemic. This study evaluated pulmonary function and ventilatory response to exercise in elite Serie A players who had tested positive for COVID-19 but were asymptomatic at the time of assessment. The research provided critical data for developing safe return-to-play protocols, demonstrating that even asymptomatic infections could affect respiratory parameters during maximal exercise — information essential for medical staff managing elite athletes.
A comprehensive review article that established the scientific rationale for monitoring ventilatory response in trained athletes. This paper argued that respiratory adaptations to physical training provide critical physiological information that goes beyond traditional cardiovascular parameters like heart rate and VO₂max. It represented the theoretical foundation for what would eventually become the Oxypeak system — the idea that monitoring the lungs, not just the heart, is essential for understanding true athletic performance.
The pioneering study that started it all. This was the first systematic analysis of ventilatory response patterns in elite football players, testing 90 athletes and demonstrating that respiratory monitoring provides unique physiological insights that heart rate monitoring alone cannot capture. This research established the scientific premise that led to the development of the Oxypeak wearable system — proving that the lungs tell a story the heart cannot.
Our research follows established protocols in exercise physiology, ensuring every measurement is clinically meaningful and reproducible.
Gold-Standard Comparison
Wearable measurements are validated against breath-by-breath gas exchange analysis using medical-grade ergospirometry equipment — the clinical gold standard.
Elite Athlete Populations
All studies conducted on professional Serie A football players — the highest level of Italian football — ensuring data relevance for elite sport applications.
Incremental Protocols
Standardized symptom-limited incremental exercise protocols on treadmill, measuring responses from rest through maximal exertion for complete metabolic profiling.
Peer Review
All findings published in indexed, peer-reviewed international journals. Every claim undergoes independent scientific scrutiny before publication.
Interested in our technology?
Learn more about our clinical protocols and wearable monitoring platform, or get in touch to discuss a partnership.