scholarly journals The constant work rate critical power protocol overestimates ramp incremental exercise performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 2415-2422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew I. Black ◽  
Andrew M. Jones ◽  
James A. Kelly ◽  
Stephen J. Bailey ◽  
Anni Vanhatalo
2019 ◽  
Vol 127 (6) ◽  
pp. 1519-1527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo Iannetta ◽  
Rafael de Almeida Azevedo ◽  
Daniel A. Keir ◽  
Juan M. Murias

The dissociation between constant work rate of O2 uptake (V̇o2) and ramp V̇o2 at a given work rate might be mitigated during slowly increasing ramp protocols. This study characterized the V̇o2 dynamics in response to five different ramp protocols and constant-work-rate trials at the maximal metabolic steady state (MMSS) to characterize 1) the V̇o2 gain (G) in the moderate, heavy, and severe domains, 2) the mean response time of V̇o2 (MRT), and 3) the work rates at lactate threshold (LT) and respiratory compensation point (RCP). Eleven young individuals performed five ramp tests (5, 10, 15, 25, and 30 W/min), four to five time-to-exhaustions for critical power estimation, and two to three constant-work-rate trials for confirmation of the work rate at MMSS. G was greatest during the slowest ramp and progressively decreased with increasing ramp slopes (from ~12 to ~8 ml·min−1·W−1, P < 0.05). The MRT was smallest during the slowest ramp slopes and progressively increased with faster ramp slopes (1 ± 1, 2 ± 1, 5 ± 3, and 10 ± 4, 15 ± 6 W, P < 0.05). After “left shifting” the ramp V̇o2 by the MRT, the work rate at LT was constant regardless of the ramp slope (~150 W, P > 0.05). The work rate at MMSS was 215 ± 55 W and was similar and highly correlated with the work rate at RCP during the 5 W/min ramp ( P > 0.05, r = 0.99; Lin’s concordance coefficient = 0.99; bias = −3 W; root mean square error = 6 W). Findings showed that the dynamics of V̇o2 (i.e., G) during ramp exercise explain the apparent dichotomy existing with constant-work-rate exercise. When these dynamics are appropriately “resolved”, LT is constant regardless of the ramp slope of choice, and RCP and MMSS display minimal variations between each other. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that the dynamics of V̇o2 during ramp-incremental exercise are dependent on the characteristics of the increments in work rate, such that during slow-incrementing ramp protocols the magnitude of the dissociation between ramp V̇o2 and constant V̇o2 at a given work rate is reduced. Accurately accounting for these dynamics ensures correct characterizations of the V̇o2 kinetics at ramp onset and allows appropriate comparisons between ramp and constant-work-rate exercise-derived indexes of exercise intensity.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (2) ◽  
pp. R585-R593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Jones ◽  
Daryl P. Wilkerson ◽  
Fred DiMenna ◽  
Jonathan Fulford ◽  
David C. Poole

We tested the hypothesis that the asymptote of the hyperbolic relationship between work rate and time to exhaustion during muscular exercise, the “critical power” (CP), represents the highest constant work rate that can be sustained without a progressive loss of homeostasis [as assessed using 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measurements of muscle metabolites]. Six healthy male subjects initially completed single-leg knee-extension exercise at three to four different constant work rates to the limit of tolerance (range 3–18 min) for estimation of the CP (mean ± SD, 20 ± 2 W). Subsequently, the subjects exercised at work rates 10% below CP (<CP) for 20 min and 10% above CP (>CP) for as long as possible, while the metabolic responses in the contracting quadriceps muscle, i.e., phosphorylcreatine concentration ([PCr]), Pi concentration ([Pi]), and pH, were estimated using 31P-MRS. All subjects completed 20 min of <CP exercise without duress, whereas the limit of tolerance during >CP exercise was 14.7 ± 7.1 min. During <CP exercise, stable values for [PCr], [Pi], and pH were attained within 3 min after the onset of exercise, and there were no further significant changes in these variables (end-exercise values = 68 ± 11% of baseline [PCr], 314 ± 216% of baseline [Pi], and pH 7.01 ± 0.03). During >CP exercise, however, [PCr] continued to fall to the point of exhaustion and [Pi] and pH changed precipitously to values that are typically observed at the termination of high-intensity exhaustive exercise (end-exercise values = 26 ± 16% of baseline [PCr], 564 ± 167% of baseline [Pi], and pH 6.87 ± 0.10, all P < 0.05 vs. <CP exercise). These data support the hypothesis that the CP represents the highest constant work rate that can be sustained without a progressive depletion of muscle high-energy phosphates and a rapid accumulation of metabolites (i.e., H+ concentration and [Pi]), which have been associated with the fatigue process.


1994 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.C. Syabbalo ◽  
B. Krishnan ◽  
T. Zintel ◽  
C.G. Gallagher

Author(s):  
Markus Hein ◽  
Kristine Chobanyan-Jürgens ◽  
Uwe Tegtbur ◽  
Stefan Engeli ◽  
Jens Jordan ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To test the hypothesis that the combination of endurance training and hypoxia leads to greater improvements in resting and exercise blood pressure in old sedentary individuals compared to endurance training only. Methods We randomly assigned 29 old overweight participants (age: 62 ± 6 years, body mass index (BMI): 28.5 ± 0.5 kg/m2, 52% men) to single blind 8-week bicycle exercise in hypoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) = 0.15) or normoxia (FIO2 = 0.21). Brachial blood pressure was measured at rest, during maximal incremental exercise testing, and during a 30 min constant work rate test, at baseline and after the training period. Results Work rate, heart rate and perceived exertion during training were similar in both groups, with lower oxygen saturation for participants exercising under hypoxia (88.7 ± 1.5 vs. 96.2 ± 1.2%, t(27) = − 13.04, p < 0.001, |g|= 4.85). Office blood pressure and blood pressure during incremental exercise tests did not change significantly in either group after the training program. Systolic blood pressure during the constant work rate test was reduced after training in hypoxia (160 ± 18 vs. 151 ± 14 mmHg, t(13) = 2.44 p < 0.05, |d|= 0.55) but not normoxia (154 ± 22 vs. 150 ± 16 mmHg, t(14) = 0.75, p = 0.46, |d|= 0.18) with no difference between groups over time (F = 0.08, p = 0.77, η2 = 0.01). Conclusion In old individuals hypoxia in addition to exercise does not have superior effects on office or exercise blood pressure compared to training in normoxia. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov No. NCT02196623 (registered 22 July 2014).


Pneumologie ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S90-S90
Author(s):  
K Siemon ◽  
F Maltais ◽  
DE O'Donnell ◽  
A Hamilton ◽  
Y Zhao ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-128
Author(s):  
Dalton M. Pessôa Filho ◽  
Leandro O.C. Siqueira ◽  
Astor R. Simionato ◽  
Mário A.C. Espada ◽  
Daniel S. Pestana ◽  
...  

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate whether a tethered-swimming incremental test comprising small increases in resistive force applied every 60 seconds could delineate the isocapnic region during rapidly-incremented exercise. Sixteen competitive swimmers (male, n = 11; female, n = 5) performed: (a) a test to determine highest force during 30 seconds of all-out tethered swimming (Favg) and the ΔF, which represented the difference between Favg and the force required to maintain body alignment (Fbase), and (b) an incremental test beginning with 60 seconds of tethered swimming against a load that exceeded Fbase by 30% of ΔF followed by increments of 5% of ΔF every 60 seconds. This incremental test was continued until the limit of tolerance with pulmonary gas exchange (rates of oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production) and ventilatory (rate of minute ventilation) data collected breath by breath. These data were subsequently analyzed to determine whether two breakpoints defining the isocapnic region (i.e., gas exchange threshold and respiratory compensation point) were present. We also determined the peak rate of O2 uptake and exercise economy during the incremental test. The gas exchange threshold and respiratory compensation point were observed for each test such that the associated metabolic rates, which bound the heavy-intensity domain during constant-work-rate exercise, could be determined. Significant correlations (Spearman’s) were observed for exercise economy along with (a) peak rate of oxygen uptake (ρ = .562; p < 0.025), and (b) metabolic rate at gas exchange threshold (ρ = −.759; p < 0.005). A rapidly-incremented tethered-swimming test allows for determination of the metabolic rates that define zones for domain-specific constant-work-rate training.


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