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Influence of prior sprint exercise on the parameters of the ‘all‐out critical power test’ in men
Author(s) -
Vanhatalo Anni,
Jones Andrew M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.2008.045229
Subject(s) - sprint , cycling , zoology , mathematics , physical therapy , medicine , biology , history , archaeology
We tested the hypothesis that a prior 30 s sprint exercise bout would significantly reduce the curvature constant ( W ′) but not the power‐asymptote (critical power, CP) of the power–duration relationship as assessed using a novel 3 min all‐out cycling test. Seven physically active male subjects completed the 3 min all‐out test on three occasions in random order: following no prior sprint exercise (control, C); following a 30 s sprint and a 2 min recovery (S2); and following a 30 s sprint and a 15 min recovery period (S15). The CP was estimated from the mean power output sustained over the final 30 s of the test and the W ′ was estimated as the power–time integral above the end‐test power. There were no significant differences in the estimated CP between the control 3 min all‐out trial and the two prior sprint conditions (C, 235 ± 44 W; S2, 223 ± 46 W; and S15, 232 ± 50 W; P > 0.05; coefficients of variation 2, 3 and 6% for C–S2, C–S15 and S2–S15, respectively). However, the W ′ in S2 (16.5 ± 3.3 kJ) was significantly lower than in C (20.8 ± 3.9 kJ) and S15 (21.2 ± 4.5 kJ; P < 0.05). The total work done was lower in S2 than in the other conditions (S2, 56.4 ± 7.2 kJ; C, 63.5 ± 6.6 kJ; and S15, 63.0 ± 6.0 kJ; P < 0.05). The W ′, but not the CP, is sensitive to a bout of prior sprint exercise which would be expected to result in significant muscle phosphocreatine depletion. These findings support the fundamental principles of the power–duration relationship as applied to all‐out exercise.