ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2017 January-February;57(1-2):1-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.16.05948-X

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

The effect of the oxygen uptake-power output relationship on the prediction of supramaximal oxygen demands

Daniel MUNIZ-PUMARES ¹, Charles PEDLAR ¹, Richard GODFREY ², Mark GLAISTER ¹ ✉

¹ School of Sport, Health and Applied Science, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, UK; ² The Centre for Sports Med and Human Performance, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between oxygen uptake (V̇O2) and power output at intensities below and above the lactate threshold (LT) in cyclists; and to determine the reliability of supramaximal power outputs linearly projected from these relationships.
METHODS: Nine male cyclists (mean±standard deviation age: 41±8 years; mass: 77±6 kg, height: 1.79±0.05 m and V̇O2max: 54±7 mL∙kg-1∙min-1) completed two cycling trials each consisting of a step test (10×3 min stages at submaximal incremental intensities) followed by a maximal test to exhaustion. The lines of best fit for V̇O2 and power output were determined for: the entire step test; stages below and above the LT, and from rolling clusters of five consecutive stages. Lines were projected to determine a power output predicted to elicit 110% peak V̇O2.
RESULTS: There were strong linear correlations (r≥0.953; P<0.01) between V̇O2 and power output using the three approaches; with the slope, intercept, and projected values of these lines unaffected (P≥0.05) by intensity. The coefficient of variation of the predicted power output at 110% V̇O2max was 6.7% when using all ten submaximal stages.
CONCLUSIONS: Cyclists exhibit a linear V̇O2 and power output relationship when determined using 3 min stages, which allows for prediction of a supramaximal intensity with acceptable reliability.

KEY WORDS: Anaerobic threshold - Exercise - Oxygen consumption