Influence of initial metabolic rate on the power–duration relationship for all-out exercise

• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-011-2214-7
• Publication Date: 2011-11-03T07:40:32Z
• Authors: Len Parker Simpson; Andrew M. Jones; Anni Vanhatalo; Daryl P. Wilkerson
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Models, Biological; Oxygen; 03 medical and health sciences; Oxygen Consumption; 0302 clinical medicine; Energy Transfer; Physical Endurance; Humans; Computer Simulation

A single 3-min all-out cycling test can be used to estimate the power asymptote (critical power, CP) and the curvature constant (W') of the power-duration relationship for severe-intensity exercise. It was hypothesized that when exercise immediately preceding the 3-min all-out test was performed CP would systematically reduce the W' without affecting the CP. Seven physically active males completed 3-min all-out cycling tests in randomized order immediately preceded by: unloaded cycling (control); 6-min moderate; 6-min heavy; 2-min severe (S2); or 4-min severe (S4) intensity exercise. The CP was estimated from the mean power output over the final 30 s of the test and the W' was estimated as the power-time integral above end-test power. There were no significant differences in the CP between control (279 ± 62), moderate (275 ± 52), heavy (286 ± 66 W), S2 (274 ± 55), or S4 (273 ± 65 W). The W' was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in S2 (11.5 ± 2.5) and S4 (8.9 ± 2.2) than in control (16.3 ± 2.3), moderate (17.2 ± 2.4) and heavy (15.6 ± 2.3 kJ). These results support the notion that the W' is predictably depleted only at a power output >CP whereas the CP is independent of the mechanisms which reduce W'.