Muscular efficiency during steady-rate exercise: effects of speed and work rate

1975 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1132-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Gaesser ◽  
G. A. Brooks

In a comparison of traditional and theoretical exercise efficiency calculations male subjects were studied during steady-rate cycle ergometer exercises of “0,” 200, 400, 600, and 800 kgm/min while pedaling at 40, 60, 80, and 100 rpm. Gross (no base-line correction), net (resting metabolism as base-line correction), work (unloading cycling as base-line correction), and delta (measurable work rate as base-line correction) efficiencies were computed. The result that gross (range 7.5–20.4%) and net (9.8–24.1%) efficiencies increased with increments in work rate was considered to be an artifact of calculation. A LINEAR OR SLIGHTLY EXPONENTIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CALORIC OUTPUT AND WORK RATE DICTATES EITHER CONSTANT OR DECREASING EFFICIENCY WITH INCREMENTS IN WORK. The delta efficiency (24.4–34.0%) definition produced this result. Due to the difficulty in obtaining 0 work equivalents, the work efficiency definition proved difficult to apply. All definitions yielded the result of decreasing efficiency with increments in speed. Since the theoretical-thermodynamic computation (assuming mitochondrial P/O = 3.0 and delta G = -11.0 kcal/mol for ATP) holds only for CHO, the traditional mode of computation (based upon VO2 and R) was judged to be superior since R less than 1.0. Assuming a constant phosphorylative-coupling efficiency of 60%, the mechanical contraction-coupling efficiency appears to vary between 41 and 57%.

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1289-1295 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. B. Mekjavic ◽  
C. J. Sundberg ◽  
D. Linnarsson

An experimental protocol was designed to investigate whether human core temperature is regulated at a “set point” or whether there is a neutral zone between the core thresholds for shivering thermogenesis and sweating. Nine male subjects exercised on an underwater cycle ergometer at a work rate equivalent to 50% of their maximum work rate. Throughout an initial 2-min rest period, the 20-min exercise protocol, and the 100-min recovery period, subjects remained immersed to the chin in water maintained at 28 degrees C. On completion of the exercise, the rate of forehead sweating (Esw) decayed from a mean peak value of 7.7 +/- 4.2 (SD) to 0.6 +/- 0.3 g.m-2.min-1, which corresponds to the rate of passive transpiration, at core temperatures of 37.42 +/- 0.29 and 37.39 +/- 0.48 degrees C, as measured in the esophagus (Tes) and rectum (Tre), respectively. Oxygen uptake (VO2) decreased rapidly from an exercising level of 2.11 +/- 0.25 to 0.46 +/- 0.09 l/min within 4 min of the recovery period. Thereafter, VO2 remained stable for approximately 20 min, eventually increased with progressive cooling of the core region, and was elevated above the median resting values determined between 15 and 20 min at Tes = 36.84 +/- 0.38 degrees C and Tre = 36.80 +/- 0.39 degrees C. These results indicate that the core temperatures at which sweating ceases and shivering commences are significantly different (P less than 0.001) regardless of whether core temperature is measured within the esophagus or rectum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1249-1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. White ◽  
M. Cabanac

The problem of the relative hyperpnea occurring at high levels of exercise remains unresolved. This study examined whether the hyperpnea observed in humans during exercise at approximately 70% of maximal work capacity was related to cranial (tympanic) and thoracic (esophageal) temperatures. Six trained male subjects pedaled at approximately 60 revolutions/min on an electrically braked cycle ergometer in a climatic chamber at 25 degrees C and approximately 35% relative humidity in two sessions. The subjects pedaled until exhaustion in two sessions. In one session work rate was increased by 40 W every 2 min and in the other session by 20 W every 2 min. In both exercise sessions, core temperature thresholds for ventilation were evident and subsequently tympanic and esophageal temperatures diverged. This suggested that the hyperpnea in humans observed after approximately 70% of an individual's maximal work rate was determined, in part, by core temperatures and revealed supportive evidence for selective brain cooling in humans.


1988 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 1045-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Roth ◽  
W. C. Stanley ◽  
G. A. Brooks

To study the effects of circulatory occlusion on the time course and magnitude of postexercise O2 consumption (VO2) and blood lactate responses, nine male subjects were studied twice for 50 min on a cycle ergometer. On one occasion, leg blood flow was occluded with surgical thigh cuffs placed below the buttocks and inflated to 200 mmHg. The protocol consisted of a 10-min rest, 12 min of exercise at 40% peak O2 consumption (VO2 peak), and a 28-min resting recovery while respiratory gas exchange was determined breath by breath. Occlusion (OCC) spanned min 6-8 during the 12-min work bout and elicited mean blood lactate of 5.2 +/- 0.8 mM, which was 380% greater than control (CON). During 18 min of recovery, blood lactate after OCC remained significantly above CON values. VO2 was significantly lower during exercise with OCC compared with CON but was significantly higher during the 4 min of exercise after cuff release. VO2 was higher after OCC during the first 4 min of recovery but was not significantly different thereafter. Neither total recovery VO2 (gross recovery VO2 with no base-line subtraction) nor excess postexercise VO2 (net recovery VO2 above an asymptotic base line) was significantly different for OCC and CON conditions (13.71 +/- 0.45 vs. 13.44 +/- 0.61 liters and 4.93 +/- 0.26 vs. 4.17 +/- 0.35 liters, respectively). Manipulation of exercise blood lactate levels had no significant effect on the slow ("lactacid") component of the recovery VO2.


1992 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 2246-2254 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. B. Mekjavic ◽  
C. J. Sundberg

The study investigated the effect of inhalation of 30% nitrous oxide (N2O) on temperature regulation in humans. Seven male subjects were immersed to the neck in 28 degrees C water on two separate occasions. They exercised at a rate equivalent to 50% of their maximum work rate on an underwater cycle ergometer for 20 min and remained immersed for an additional 100 min after the exercise. In one trial (AIR) the subjects inspired compressed air, and in the other trial (N2O) they inspired a gas mixture containing N2O (20.93% O2–30% N2O-49.07% N2). Sweating, measured at the forehead, and shivering thermogenesis, as reflected by O2 uptake, were monitored throughout the 100-min recovery period. The threshold core temperatures at which sweating was extinguished and shivering was initiated were established relative to resting preexercise levels. Neither the magnitude of the sweating response nor the core threshold at which it was extinguished was significantly affected by the inhalation of N2O. In contrast, shivering thermogenesis was both significantly reduced during the N2O condition and initiated at significantly lower core temperatures [change in esophageal temperature (delta T(es)) = -0.98 +/- 0.33 degrees C and change in rectal temperature (delta T(re)) = -1.26 degrees C] during the N2O than during the AIR condition (delta T(es) = -0.36 +/- 0.31 degrees C and delta T(re) = -0.44 +/- 0.22 degrees C).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Author(s):  
Jessica Koschate ◽  
Uwe Drescher ◽  
Uwe Hoffmann

Abstract Introduction Adequate cardiorespiratory fitness is of utmost importance during spaceflight and should be assessable via moderate work rate intensities, e.g., using kinetics parameters. The combination of restricted sleep, and defined physical exercise during a 45-day simulated space mission is expected to slow heart rate (HR) kinetics without changes in oxygen uptake ($${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$ V ˙ O 2 ) kinetics. Methods Overall, 14 crew members (9 males, 5 females, 37 ± 7 yrs, 23.4 ± 3.5 kg m−2) simulated a 45-d-mission to an asteroid. During the mission, the sleep schedule included 5 nights of 5 h and 2 nights of 8 h sleep. The crew members were tested on a cycle ergometer, using pseudo-random binary sequences, changing between 30 and 80 W on day 8 before (MD-8), day 22 (MD22) and 42 (MD42) after the beginning and day 4 (MD + 4) following the end of the mission. Kinetics information was assessed using the maxima of cross-correlation functions (CCFmax). Higher CCFmax indicates faster responses. Results CCFmax(HR) was significantly (p = 0.008) slower at MD-8 (0.30 ± 0.06) compared with MD22 (0.36 ± 0.06), MD42 (0.38 ± 0.06) and MD + 4 (0.35 ± 0.06). Mean HR values during the different work rate steps were higher at MD-8 and MD + 4 compared to MD22 and MD42 (p < 0.001). Discussion The physical training during the mission accelerated HR kinetics, but had no impact on mean HR values post mission. Thus, HR kinetics seem to be sensitive to changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and may be a valuable parameter to monitor fitness. Kinetics and capacities adapt independently in response to confinement in combination with defined physical activity and sleep.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Rogowski ◽  
Justin P. Guilkey ◽  
Brooke R. Stephens ◽  
Andrew S. Cole ◽  
Anthony D. Mahon

This study examined the influence of maturation on the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) in healthy male subjects. Seventy-six healthy male subjects (8–27 yr) were divided into groups based on maturation status: prepubertal (PP), midpubertal (MP), late-pubertal (LP), and young-adult (YA) males. Puberty status was determined by physical examination. Subjects performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine OUES. Group differences were assessed using a one-way ANOVA. OUES values (VO2L·min1/log10VEL·min−1) were lower in PP and MP compared with LP and YA (p < .05). When OUES was expressed relative to body mass (VO2mL·kg−1·min−1/log10VEmL·kg−1·min−1) differences between groups reversed whereby PP and MP had higher mass relative OUES values compared with LP and YA (p < .05). Adjusting OUES by measures of body mass failed to eliminate differences across maturational groups. This suggests that qualitative factors, perhaps related to oxidative metabolism, account for the responses observed in this study.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 2100-2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Chonan ◽  
M. B. Mulholland ◽  
J. Leitner ◽  
M. D. Altose ◽  
N. S. Cherniack

To determine whether the intensity of dyspnea at a given level of respiratory motor output depends on the nature of the stimulus to ventilation, we compared the sensation of difficulty in breathing during progressive hypercapnia (HC) induced by rebreathing, during incremental exercise (E) on a cycle ergometer, and during isocapnic voluntary hyperventilation (IVH) in 16 normal subjects. The sensation of difficulty in breathing was rated at 30-s intervals by use of a visual analog scale. There were no differences in the level of ventilation or the base-line intensity of dyspnea before any of the interventions. The intensity of dyspnea grew linearly with increases in ventilation during HC [r = 0.98 +/- 0.02 (SD)], E (0.95 +/- 0.03), and IVH (0.95 +/- 0.06). The change in intensity of dyspnea produced by a given change in ventilation was significantly greater during HC [0.27 +/- 0.04 (SE)] than during E (0.12 +/- 0.02, P less than 0.01) and during HC (0.30 +/- 0.04) than during IVH (0.16 +/- 0.03, P less than 0.01). The difference in intensity of dyspnea between HC and E or HC and IVH increased as the difference in end-tidal PCO2 widened, even though the time course of the increase in ventilation was similar. No significant differences were measured in the intensity of dyspnea that occurred with changes in ventilation between E and IVH. These results indicate that under nearisocapnic conditions the sensation of dyspnea produced by a given level of ventilation seems not to depend on the method used to produce that level of ventilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 602-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Stokes ◽  
M. E. Nevill ◽  
G. M. Hall ◽  
H. K. A. Lakomy

The present study examined the growth hormone (GH) response to repeated bouts of maximal sprint cycling and the effect of cycling at different pedaling rates on postexercise serum GH concentrations. Ten male subjects completed two 30-s sprints, separated by 1 h of passive recovery on two occasions, against an applied resistance equal to 7.5% (fast trial) and 10% (slow trial) of their body mass, respectively. Blood samples were obtained at rest, between the two sprints, and for 1 h after the second sprint. Peak and mean pedal revolutions were greater in the fast than the slow trial, but there were no differences in peak or mean power output. Blood lactate and blood pH responses did not differ between trials or sprints. The first sprint in each trial elicited a serum GH response (fast: 40.8 ± 8.2 mU/l, slow: 20.8 ± 6.1 mU/l), and serum GH was still elevated 60 min after the first sprint. The second sprint in each trial did not elicit a serum GH response ( sprint 1 vs. sprint 2, P < 0.05). There was a trend for serum GH concentrations to be greater in the fast trial (mean GH area under the curve after sprint 1vs. after sprint 2: 1,697 ± 367 vs. 933 ± 306 min · mU−1 · l−1; P = 0.05). Repeated sprint cycling results in an attenuation of the GH response.


1980 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 518-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. N. Stainbsy ◽  
L. B. Gladden ◽  
J. K. Barclay ◽  
B. A. Wilson

In evaluating the efficiency of humans performing exercise, base-line subtractions have been used in an attempt to determine the efficiency of the muscles in performing the external work. Despite the fact that base lines have been criticized previously, they have been widely used without adequate analysis of the implications involved. Calculations of efficiencies using data available in the literature for isolated muscle preparations revealed that base-line subtractions result in unreasonably high efficiencies. This suggests strongly that the base lines are invalid. To be valid, a base line must continue unchanged under all the conditions in which it is applied. Previously published data indicate clearly that exercise base lines change with increasing work rate and are therefore invalid. The use of base lines is further complicated by elastic energy storage in some types of exercise. Although exercise efficiencies using base line subtractions may be useful, they do not indicate muscle efficiency. Perhaps future studies of exercise metabolism should be directed less at refining base lines and more toward describing and quantifying the determinants of energy expenditure.


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