Similarity in physiological and perceived exertion responses to exercise at continuous and intermittent critical power

The W' Balance Model: Mathematical and Methodological Considerations

Since its publication in 2012, the W' balance model has become an important tool in the scientific armamentarium for understanding and predicting human physiology and performance during high-intensity intermittent exercise. Indeed, publications featuring the model are accumulating, and it has been adapted for popular use both in desktop computer software and on wrist-worn devices. Despite the model's intuitive appeal, it has achieved mixed results thus far, in part due to a lack of clarity in its basis and calculation. Purpose: This review examines the theoretical basis, assumptions, calculation methods, and the strengths and limitations of the integral and differential forms of the W' balance model. In particular, the authors emphasize that the formulations are based on distinct assumptions about the depletion and reconstitution of W' during intermittent exercise; understanding the distinctions between the 2 forms will enable practitioners to correctly implement the models and interpret their results. The authors then discuss foundational issues affecting the validity and utility of the model, followed by evaluating potential modifications and suggesting avenues for further research. Conclusions: The W' balance model has served as a valuable conceptual and computational tool. Improved versions may better predict performance and further advance the physiology of high-intensity intermittent exercise.

Relationships between rating of perceived exertion, heart rate and blood lactate during continuous and alternated-intensity cycling exercises

This study aimed to: i) use Borg's scale of rating perceived exertion (RPE) in the prescription of cycling training exercises with alternated intensity (S); ii) determine the relationships between RPE and the indices of physiological strains, e.g. heart rate (HR) and blood lactate ([La]), measured during S compared to continuous exercises (C). HR, [La] and RPE were measured in 11 active men at the 5th and 10th minutes of cycling exercises. These exercises were performed with constant or varying intensity corresponding to average power outputs (APO) equal to 160 and 240 W. The protocols with varying intensity consisted of alternated short periods (10 s: S10, or 20 s: S20) of medium and high intensity (120-200 W for APO-160 W and 200-280 W for APO-240 W). During S exercises HR, [La] and RPE were significantly higher compared to C exercises. This effect was more pronounced when the duration of alternated-intensity bouts was longer (S20 versus S10 protocols). The relationships between HR, [La] and RPE (mean or individual data) were not significantly different for the different protocols. However, there was a shift in the relationship between RPE and HR measured at the 5th and 10th minutes of exercise (p<0.001). Moreover, in each protocol, there were significant differences in the individual values of HR or [La] corresponding to the same RPE. The relationships between HR, [La] and RPE were not different between C and S exercises. Individually determined RPE can be used in the prescription of training for both exercises.

The effects of short work vs. longer work periods within intermittent exercise on V̇o2p kinetics, muscle deoxygenation, and energy system contribution

We examined the effects of inserting 3-s recovery periods during high-intensity cycling exercise at 25-s and 10-s intervals on pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇o_2p), muscle deoxygenation [deoxyhemoglobin (HHb)], their associated kinetics (τ), and energy system contributions. Eleven men (24 ± 3 yr) completed two trials of three cycling protocols: an 8-min continuous protocol (CONT) and two 8-min intermittent exercise protocols with work-to-rest periods of 25 s to 3 s (25INT) and 10 s to 3 s (10INT). Each protocol began with a step-transition from a 20-W baseline to a power output (PO) of 60% between lactate threshold and maximal V̇o_2p (Δ60). This PO was maintained for 8 min in CONT, whereas 3-s periods of 20-W cycling were inserted every 10 s and 25 s after the transition to Δ60 in 10INT and 25INT, respectively. Breath-by-breath gas exchange measured by mass spectrometry and turbine and vastus lateralis [HHb] measured by near-infrared spectroscopy were recorded throughout. Arterialized-capillary lactate concentration ([Lac^-]) was obtained before and 2 min postexercise. The τV̇o_2p was lowest (P < 0.05) for 10INT (24 ± 4 s) and 25INT (23 ± 5 s) compared with CONT (28 ± 4 s), whereas HHb kinetics did not differ (P > 0.05) between conditions. Postexercise [Lac^-] was lowest (P < 0.05) for 10INT (7.0 ± 1.7 mM), was higher for 25INT (10.3 ± 1.9 mM), and was greatest in CONT (14.3 ± 3.1 mM). Inserting 3-s recovery periods during heavy-intensity exercise speeded V̇o_2p kinetics and reduced overall V̇o_2p, suggesting an increased reliance on PCr-derived phosphorylation during the work period of INT compared with an identical PO performed continuously.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We report novel observations on the effects of differing heavy-intensity work durations between 3-s recovery periods on pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇o_2p) kinetics, muscle deoxygenation, and energy system contributions. Relative to continuous exercise, V̇o_2p kinetics are faster in intermittent exercise, and increased frequency of 3-s recovery periods improves microvascular O₂ delivery and reduces V̇o_2p and arterialized-capillary lactate concentration. The metabolic burden of identical intensity work is altered when performed intermittently vs. continuously.

Intensity- and Duration-Based Options to Regulate Endurance Training

The regulation of endurance training is usually based on the prescription of exercise intensity. Exercise duration, another important variable of training load, is rarely prescribed by individual measures and mostly set from experience. As the specific exercise duration for any intensity plays a substantial role regarding the different kind of cellular stressors, degree, and kind of fatigue as well as training effects, concepts integrating the prescription of both intensity and duration within one model are needed. An according recent approach was the critical power concept which seems to have a physiological basis; however, the mathematical approach of this concept does not allow applying the three zones/two threshold model of metabolism and its different physiological consequences. Here we show the combination of exercise intensity and duration prescription on an individual basis applying the power/speed to distance/time relationship. The concept is based on both the differentiation of intensities by two lactate or gas exchange variables derived turn points, and on the relationship between power (or velocity) and duration (or distance). The turn points define three zones of intensities with distinct acute metabolic, hormonal, and cardio-respiratory responses for endurance exercise. A maximal duration exists for any single power or velocity such as described in the power-duration relationship. Using percentages of the maximal duration allows regulating fatigue, recovery time, and adaptation for any single endurance training session. Four domains of duration with respect to induced fatigue can be derived from maximal duration obtained by the power-duration curve. For any micro-cycle, target intensities and durations may be chosen on an individual basis. The model described here is the first conceptual framework of integrating physiologically defined intensities and fatigue related durations to optimize high-performance exercise training.

RESPOSTA FISIOLÓGICA E PERCEPTUAL NA VELOCIDADE CRÍTICA E PONTO DE COMPENSAÇÃO RESPIRATÓRIA

RESUMO Introdução: O ponto de compensação respiratória (PCR) representa a taxa metabólica durante um teste incremental máximo, a partir da qual se perde o controle do equilíbrio ácido-base. Entretanto, a velocidade crítica (VC) define o limite superior do domínio pesado do exercício, no qual a exaustão não está relacionada à perturbação metabólica. Objetivo: Comparar a resposta fisiológica (frequência cardíaca - FC, lactato sanguíneo - [La] e consumo de oxigênio - V̇O2) e perceptual (percepção subjetiva de esforço - PSE) durante o exercício na VC e no PCR, visando analisar as similaridades contextuais. Métodos: Dez corredores adolescentes (15,8 ± 1,7 anos) submeteram-se a um teste progressivo (incrementos de 1,0 km×h-1 por minuto, até a exaustão) para determinar V̇O2max, PCR e velocidades correspondentes. A VC foi estimada por três esforços, com tempo limite previsto entre 2 e 12 minutos. Os participantes realizaram dois esforços de sete minutos cada, em dias diferentes, na VC e vPCR. Foram registradas FC, PSE (escala 6-20) a cada minuto e [La] de repouso e após cada esforço. O V̇O2 foi analisado respiração a respiração durante os esforços. O teste de Mann-Whitney comparou as respostas de FC, [La], V̇O2 e PSE em VC e vPCR. A variância entre essas respostas foi analisada pelo coeficiente de dispersão (R2). O índice de significância foi P≤0,05. Resultados: Os valores máximos no teste progressivo foram 56,1 ± 5,5 ml×kg-1×min-1 (V̇O2max), 16,5 ± 1,7 km×h-1 (vV̇O2max), 202 ± 12 bpm (FCmax), 19,4 ± 1,3 (PSE) e 12,7 ± 3,1 mmol×L-1 ([La]). Não foram observadas diferenças entre VC (a 83,8 ± 3,6% vV̇O2max) e vPCR (a 86,5 ± 3,6% vV̇O2max) nas respostas de PSE (P = 0,761), FC (P = 0,096), [La] (P = 0,104) e V̇O2 (P = 0,364). Demonstrou-se haver correlações entre VC e vPCR nas respostas de [La] (R2 = 0,76; P = 0,011), PSE (R2 = 0,84; P < 0,01) e V̇O2max (R2 = 0,82; P < 0,01). Conclusão: Pode-se inferir que o exercício em PCR reproduziu uma resposta fisiológica e perceptual similar àquela em VC.

Critical stroke rate as a parameter for evaluation in swimming

The purpose of this study was to investigate the critical stroke rate (CSR) compared to the average stroke rate (SR) when swimming at the critical speed (CS). Ten competitive swimmers performed five 200 m trials at different velocities relative to their CS (90, 95, 100, 103 and 105%) in front crawl. The CSR was significantly higher than the SR at 90% of the CS and lower at 105% of the CS. Stroke length (SL) at 103 and 105% of the CS were lower than the SL at 90, 95, and 100% of the CS. The combination of the CS and CSR concepts can be useful for improving both aerobic capacity/power and technique. CS and CSR could be used to reduce the SR and increase the SL, when swimming at the CS pace, or to increase the swimming speed when swimming at the CSR.

Fast-start strategy increases the time spent above 95 %VO2max during severe-intensity intermittent running exercise

This study aimed to use the intermittent critical velocity (ICV) model to individualize intermittent exercise and analyze whether a fast-start strategy could increase the time spent at or above 95 %VO(2max) (t95VO(2max)) during intermittent exercise. After an incremental test, seven active male subjects performed three intermittent exercise tests until exhaustion at 100, 110, and 120 % of the maximal aerobic velocity to determine ICV. On three occasions, the subjects performed an intermittent exercise test until exhaustion at 105 % (IE105) and 125 % (IE125) of ICV, and at a speed that was initially set at 125 %ICV but which then decreased to 105 %ICV (IE125-105). The intermittent exercise consisted of repeated 30-s runs alternated with 15-s passive rest intervals. There was no difference between the predicted and actual Tlim for IE125 (300 ± 72 s and 284 ± 76 s) and IE105 (1,438 ± 423 s and 1,439 ± 518 s), but for IE125-105 the predicted Tlim underestimated the actual Tlim (888 ± 211 s and 1,051 ± 153 s, respectively). The t95VO(2max) during IE125-105 (289 ± 150 s) was significantly higher than IE125 (113 ± 40 s) and IE105 (106 ± 71 s), but no significant differences were found between IE125 and IE105. It can be concluded that predicting Tlim from the ICV model was affected by the fast-start protocol during intermittent exercise. Furthermore, fast-start protocol was able to increase the time spent at or above 95 %VO2max during intermittent exercise above ICV despite a longer total exercise time at IE105.