Effects of baseline metabolic rate on pulmonary O2 uptake on-kinetics during heavy-intensity exercise in humans

Identifying time-varying dynamics of heart rate and oxygen uptake from single ramp incremental running tests

Objective.The fact that ramp incremental exercise yields quasi-linear responses for pulmonary oxygen uptake (V˙O2) and heart rate (HR) seems contradictory to the well-known non-linear behavior of underlying physiological processes. Prior research highlights this issue and demonstrates how a balancing of system gain and response time parameters causes linearV˙O2responses during ramp tests. This study builds upon this knowledge and extracts the time-varying dynamics directly from HR andV˙O2data of single ramp incremental running tests.Approach.A large-scale open access dataset of 735 ramp incremental running tests is analyzed. The dynamics are obtained by means of 1st order autoregressive and exogenous models with time-variant parameters. This allows for the estimates of time constant (τ) and steady state gain (SSG) to vary with work rate.Main results.As the work rate increases,τ-values increase on average from 38 to 132 s for HR, and from 27 to 35 s forV˙O2. Both increases are statistically significant (p< 0.01). Further, SSG-values decrease on average from 14 to 9 bpm (km·h-1)-1for HR, and from 218 to 144 ml·min-1forV˙O2(p< 0.01 for decrease parameters of HR andV˙O2). The results of this modeling approach are line with literature reporting on cardiorespiratory dynamics obtained using standard procedures.Significance.We show that time-variant modeling is able to determine the time-varying dynamics HR andV˙O2responses to ramp incremental running directly from individual tests. The proposed method allows for gaining insights into the cardiorespiratory response characteristics when no repeated measurements are available.

Mechanisms of slowed V̇O2 on-kinetics in second step of two-step-incremental exercise in skeletal muscle

Simulations using a computer model of the skeletal muscle bioenergetic system demonstrate that the slowed V̇O₂ on-kinetics of the second step in two-step incremental exercise (exercise initiated from elevated baseline metabolic rate) can be accounted for by a decrease in the stimulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and/or increase in the stimulation of glycolysis through each-step activation (ESA) in working skeletal muscle. This effect can be caused by either a recruitment of more glycolytic type IIa, IIx and IIb fibers or metabolic regulation in already recruited fibers, or both. The elevated-glycolysis-stimulation mechanism predicts that the end-second-step pH in two-step-incremental exercise is lower than the end-exercise pH in constant-power exercise with the same work intensity (power output). The lowered-OXPHOS-stimulation mechanism predicts higher end-exercise ADP and P_i, and lower PCr in the second step of two-step-incremental than in constant-power exercise. These predictions/mechanisms can be verified or falsified in the experimental way. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: There are no additional data available.

Low-volume HIIT and MICT speed V̇O2 kinetics during high-intensity "work-to-work" cycling with a similar time-course in type 2 diabetes

We assessed the rates of adjustment in oxygen uptake (V̇O₂) and muscle deoxygenation (i.e., deoxygenated haemoglobin and myoglobin, [HHb+Mb]) during the on-transition to high-intensity cycling initiated from an elevated baseline (work-to-work) before training and at weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12 of low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Participants were randomly assigned to MICT (n=11, 50 min of moderate-intensity cycling), HIIT (n =8, 10x1 min of high-intensity cycling separated by 1-min of light cycling) or non-exercising control (n=9) groups. Exercising groups trained 3 times per week. Participants completed two work-to-work transitions at each time point consisting of sequential step increments to moderate- and high-intensity work-rates. [HHb+Mb] kinetics were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy at the vastus lateralis muscle. The pretraining time constant of the primary phase of V̇O₂ (V̇O₂τ_p) and the amplitude of the V̇O₂ slow component (V̇O₂A_s) of the high-intensity w-to-w bout decreased (P<0.05) by a similar magnitude at wk 3 of training in both MICT (from, 56±9 to 43±6s, and from 0.17±0.07 to 0.09±0.05 L.min^-1, respectively) and HIIT (from, 56±8 to 42±6s, and from 0.18±0.05 to 0.09±0.08 L.min^-1, respectively) with no further changes thereafter. No changes were reported in controls. The parameter estimates of Δ[HHb+Mb] remained unchanged in all groups. MICT and HIIT elicited comparable improvements in V̇O₂ kinetics without changes in muscle deoxygenation kinetics during high-intensity exercise initiated from an elevated baseline in T2D despite training volume and time commitment being ~50% lower in the HIIT group.

Efficiency of cycling exercise: Quantification, mechanisms, and misunderstandings

The energetics of cycling represents a well-studied area of exercise science, yet there are still many questions that remain. Efficiency, broadly defined as the ratio of energy output to energy input, is one key metric that, despite its importance from both a scientific as well as performance perspective, is commonly misunderstood. There are many factors that may affect cycling efficiency, both intrinsic (e.g., muscle fiber type composition) and extrinsic (e.g., cycling cadence, prior exercise, and training), creating a complex interplay of many components. Due to its relative simplicity, the measurement of oxygen uptake continues to be the most common means of measuring the energy cost of exercise (and thus efficiency); however, it is limited to only a small proportion of the range of outputs humans are capable of, further limiting our understanding of the energetics of high-intensity exercise and any mechanistic bases therein. This review presents evidence that delta efficiency does not represent muscular efficiency and challenges the notion that the slow component of oxygen uptake represents decreasing efficiency. It is noted that gross efficiency increases as intensity of exercise increases in spite of the fact that fast-twitch fibers are recruited to achieve this high power output. Understanding the energetics of high-intensity exercise will require critical evaluation of the available data.

Modeling VO2 on-kinetics based on intensity-dependent Delayed Adjustment and Loss of Efficiency (DALE)

This study presents and evaluates a new mathematical model of V̇O₂ on-kinetics, with the following properties: (i) a progressively slower primary phase following the size-principle of motor unit recruitment, explaining the delayed V̇O₂ steady state seen in the heavy exercise intensity domain, and (ii) a severe-domain slow component modelled as a time-dependent decrease in efficiency. Breath-by-breath V̇O₂ measurements from eight subjects performing step cycling transitions, in the moderate, heavy and severe exercise domains, were fitted to the conventional 3-phase model and the new model. Model performance was evaluated with a residual analysis and by comparing Bayesian (BIC) and corrected Akaike (AICc) information criteria. The residual analysis showed no systematic deviations, except perhaps for the initial part of the primary phase. BIC favored the new model, being 9.3 (SD 7.1) lower than the conventional model while AICc was similar between models. Compared to the conventional 3-phase model, the proposed model distinguishes between the kinetic adaptations in the heavy and severe domains by predicting a delayed steady state V̇O₂ in the heavy and no steady state V̇O₂ in the severe domain. This allows to determine when stable oxygen costs of exercise are attainable and it also represents a first step in defining time-dependent oxygen costs when stable energy conversion efficiency is not attainable.

Moderate-intensity exercise with blood flow restriction on cardiopulmonary kinetics and efficiency during a subsequent high-intensity exercise in young women: A cross-sectional study

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training applied prior to a subsequent exercise has been used as a method to induce changes in oxygen uptake pulmonary kinetics (O2P) and exercise performance. However, the effects of a moderate-intensity training associated with BFR on a subsequent high-intensity exercise on O2P and cardiac output (QT) kinetics, exercise tolerance, and efficiency remain unknown.This prospective physiologic study was performed at the Exercise Physiology Lab, University of Brasilia. Ten healthy females (mean ± SD values: age = 21.3 ± 2.2 years; height = 1.6 ± 0.07 m, and weight = 55.6 ± 8.8 kg) underwent moderate-intensity training associated with or without BFR for 6 minutes prior to a maximal high-intensity exercise bout. O2P, heart rate, and QT kinetics and gross efficiency were obtained during the high-intensity constant workload exercise test.No differences were observed in O2P, heart rate, and QT kinetics in the subsequent high-intensity exercise following BFR training. However, exercise tolerance and gross efficiency were significantly greater after BFR (220 ± 45 vs 136 ± 30 seconds; P < .05, and 32.8 ± 6.3 vs 27.1 ± 5.4%; P < .05, respectively), which also resulted in lower oxygen cost (1382 ± 227 vs 1695 ± 305 mL min-1).We concluded that moderate-intensity BFR training implemented prior to a high-intensity protocol did not accelerate subsequent O2P and QT kinetics, but it has the potential to improve both exercise tolerance and work efficiency at high workloads.

Frequency domain analysis to extract dynamic response characteristics for oxygen uptake during transitions to moderate- and heavy-intensity exercises

At the onset of an exercise transition, exponential modeling to calculate a time constant (τ) is the conventional method to analyze pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇O_2p) kinetics for moderate and heavy exercises. A new frequency domain analysis technique, mean normalized gain (MNG), has been used to analyze V̇O_2p kinetics during moderate exercise, but has not been evaluated for its ability to detect differences in kinetics between moderate and heavy exercises. This study tested the hypothesis that MNG would detect smaller amplitude V̇O_2p responses in the heavy-exercise domain compared with moderate-exercise domain. Eight young healthy adults (3 female; age: 27 ± 6 yr; peak V̇O_2p: 43 ± 6 mL·min^-1·kg^-1; means ± SD) performed three bouts of pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) exercise for frequency analysis, with the work rate (WR) changing between 25 W and 90% ventilatory threshold (VT; L → M_PRBS), 25 W and 50% of the difference between VT and peak V̇O_2p (Δ50%; L → H_PRBS), and VT to Δ50% (VT → H_PRBS). Step exercise tests with equivalent changes in WR to the PRBS tests were performed to facilitate the comparison between MNG and τ. MNG was the highest for L → M_PRBS (59 ± 7%), then L → H_PRBS (52 ± 6%), and the lowest for VT → H_PRBS (38 ± 7%, F_(2,14) = 129.755, P < 0.001) exercise conditions indicating slower kinetics with increasing exercise intensity that correlated strongly in repeated measures with τ from step transitions (r_rm = -0.893). These results indicate that frequency domain analysis and MNG reliably detect differences in V̇O_2p kinetics observed across exercise intensity domains.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mean normalized gain is able to detect differences in V̇O_2p kinetics between moderate-, heavy-, and heavy-intensity exercises from a raised WR within the same individuals. This new method of kinetic analysis may be advantageous compared with conventional V̇O_2p curve fitting, as it is less sensitive to breath-by-breath noise, it can provide useful information from a single exercise testing session, and it can be applied to nonconstant work rate exercise situations.

Priming exercise accelerates pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics during "work-to-work" cycle exercise in middle-aged individuals with type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE

The time constant of phase II pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics ([Formula: see text]) is increased when high-intensity exercise is initiated from an elevated baseline (work-to-work). A high-intensity priming exercise (PE), which enhances muscle oxygen supply, does not reduce this prolonged [Formula: see text] in healthy active individuals, likely because [Formula: see text] is limited by metabolic inertia (rather than oxygen delivery) in these individuals. Since [Formula: see text] is more influenced by oxygen delivery in type 2 diabetes (T2D), this study tested the hypothesis that PE would reduce [Formula: see text] in T2D during work-to-work cycle exercise.

METHODS

Nine middle-aged individuals with T2D and nine controls (ND) performed four bouts of constant-load, high-intensity work-to-work transitions, each commencing from a baseline of moderate-intensity. Two bouts were completed without PE and two were preceded by PE. The rate of muscle deoxygenation ([HHb + Mb]) and surface integrated electromyography (iEMG) were measured at the right and left vastus lateralis, respectively.

RESULTS

Subsequent to PE, [Formula: see text] was reduced (P = 0.001) in T2D (from 59 ± 17 to 37 ± 20 s) but not (P = 0.24) in ND (44 ± 10 to 38 ± 7 s). The amplitude of the [Formula: see text] slow component ([Formula: see text]₂ A_s) was reduced (P = 0.001) in both groups (T2D: 0.16 ± 0.09 to 0.11 ± 0.04 l/min; ND: 0.21 ± 0.13 to 0.13  ± 0.09 l/min). This was accompanied by a reduction in ΔiEMG from the onset of [Formula: see text] slow component to end-exercise in both groups (P < 0.001), while [HHb + Mb] kinetics remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

PE accelerates [Formula: see text] in T2D, likely by negating the O₂ delivery limitation extant in the unprimed condition, and reduces the [Formula: see text]A_s possibly due to changes in muscle fibre activation.

Second-order simultaneous components model for the overshoot and "slow component" in V̇O2 kinetics

The human oxygen uptake responses to exercise step on-transients present different shapes depending on the overshoot and/or the "slow component" manifestations. The conventional First-Order Multi-Exponential (FOME) model incorporates delayed add-on terms to comprise these phenomena, increasing parameter quantity, requiring a delayed recruitment of type II fibers to explain the "slow component," and not offering a unified structure for different individuals and intensity domains. We hypothesized that a model composed of two Second-Order Simultaneous Components (SOSC) would present a better overall fitting performance than the FOME. Fourteen well-trained male cyclists performed repeated step on-transitions to moderate, heavy, and severe cycling intensities, whose responses were fitted with FOME and SOSC models. The SOSC presented significantly smaller (p < 0.05) root mean squared errors for moderate, supra-moderate, and all intensities combined. Along with conceptual analyses, these findings suggest the SOSC as a comprehensive alternative to the FOME model, explaining all oxygen uptake step responses with as many parameters and without delayed add-on components.

Relationship between (non)linear phase II pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics with skeletal muscle oxygenation and age in 11-15 year olds

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Do the phase II parameters of pulmonary oxygen uptake ( V ̇ O 2 ) kinetics display linear, first-order behaviour in association with alterations in skeletal muscle oxygenation during step cycling of different intensities or when exercise is initiated from an elevated work rate in youths. What is the main finding and its importance? Both linear and non-linear features of phase II V ̇ O 2 kinetics may be determined by alterations in the dynamic balance between microvascular O₂ delivery and utilization in 11-15 year olds. The recruitment of higher-order (i.e. type II) muscle fibres during 'work-to-work' cycling might be responsible for modulating V ̇ O 2 kinetics with chronological age.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated in 19 male youths (mean age: 13.6 ± 1.1 years, range: 11.7-15.7 years) the relationship between pulmonary oxygen uptake ( V ̇ O 2 ) and muscle deoxygenation kinetics during moderate- and very heavy-intensity 'step' cycling initiated from unloaded pedalling (i.e. U → M and U → VH) and moderate to very heavy-intensity step cycling (i.e. M → VH). Pulmonary V ̇ O 2 was measured breath-by-breath along with the tissue oxygenation index (TOI) of the vastus lateralis using near-infrared spectroscopy. There were no significant differences in the phase II time constant ( τ V ̇ O 2 p ) between U → M and U → VH (23 ± 6 vs. 25 ± 7 s; P = 0.36); however, the τ V ̇ O 2 p was slower during M → VH (42 ± 16 s) compared to other conditions (P < 0.001). Quadriceps TOI decreased with a faster (P < 0.01) mean response time (MRT; i.e. time delay + τ) during U → VH (14 ± 2 s) compared to U → M (22 ± 4 s) and M → VH (20 ± 6 s). The difference (Δ) between the τ V ̇ O 2 p and MRT-TOI was greater during U → VH compared to U → M (12 ± 7 vs. 2 ± 7 s, P < 0.001) and during M → VH (23 ± 15 s) compared to other conditions (P < 0.02), suggesting an increased proportional speeding of fractional O₂ extraction. The slowing of the τ V ̇ O 2 p during M → VH relative to U → M and U → VH correlated positively with chronological age (r = 0.68 and 0.57, respectively, P < 0.01). In youths, 'work-to-work' transitions slowed microvascular O₂ delivery-to-O₂ utilization with alterations in phase II V ̇ O 2 dynamics accentuated between the ages of 11 and 15 years.

Elevated baseline work rate slows pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics and decreases critical power during upright cycle exercise

Critical power is a fundamental parameter defining high-intensity exercise tolerance, and is related to the phase II time constant of pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics (τV˙O2). Whether this relationship is causative is presently unclear. This study determined the impact of raised baseline work rate, which increases τV˙O2, on critical power during upright cycle exercise. Critical power was determined via four constant-power exercise tests to exhaustion in two conditions: (1) with exercise initiated from an unloaded cycling baseline (U→S), and (2) with exercise initiated from a baseline work rate of 90% of the gas exchange threshold (M→S). During these exercise transitions, τV˙O2 and the time constant of muscle deoxyhemoglobin kinetics (τ[HHb + Mb] ) (the latter via near-infrared spectroscopy) were determined. In M→S, critical power was lower (M→S = 203 ± 44 W vs. U→S = 213 ± 45 W, P = 0.011) and τV˙O2 was greater (M→S = 51 ± 14 sec vs. U→S = 34 ± 16 sec, P = 0.002) when compared with U→S. Additionally, τ[HHb + Mb] was greater in M→S compared with U→S (M→S = 28 ± 7 sec vs. U→S = 14 ± 7 sec, P = 0.007). The increase in τV˙O2 and concomitant reduction in critical power in M→S compared with U→S suggests a causal relationship between these two parameters. However, that τ[HHb + Mb] was greater in M→S exculpates reduced oxygen availability as being a confounding factor. These data therefore provide the first experimental evidence that τV˙O2 is an independent determinant of critical power. Keywords critical power, exercise tolerance, oxygen uptake kinetics, power-duration relationship, muscle deoxyhemoglobin kinetics, work-to-work exercise.

Influence of muscle metabolic heterogeneity in determining the V̇o2p kinetic response to ramp-incremental exercise

The pulmonary O2 uptake (V̇o2p) response to ramp-incremental (RI) exercise increases linearly with work rate (WR) after an early exponential phase, implying that a single time constant (τ) and gain (G) describe the response. However, variability in τ and G of V̇o2p kinetics to different step increments in WR is documented. We hypothesized that the "linear" V̇o2p-WR relationship during RI exercise results from the conflation between WR-dependent changes in τ and G. Nine men performed three or four repeats of RI exercise (30 W/min) and two step-incremental protocols consisting of four 60-W increments beginning from 20 W or 50 W. During testing, breath-by-breath V̇o2p was measured by mass spectrometry and volume turbine. For each individual, the V̇o2p RI response was characterized with exponential functions containing either constant or variable τ and G values. A relationship between τ and G vs. WR was determined from the step-incremental protocols to derive the variable model parameters. τ and G increased from 21 ± 5 to 98 ± 20 s and from 8.7 ± 0.6 to 12.0 ± 1.9 ml·min(-1)·W(-1) for WRs of 20-230 W, respectively, and were best described by a second-order (τ) and a first-order (G) polynomial function of WR (lowest Akaike information criterion score). The sum of squared residuals was not different (P > 0.05) when the V̇o2p RI response was characterized with either the constant or variable models, indicating that they described the response equally well. Results suggest that τ and G increase progressively with WR during RI exercise. Importantly, these relationships may conflate to produce a linear V̇o2p-WR response, emphasizing the influence of metabolic heterogeneity in determining the apparent V̇o2p-WR relationship during RI exercise.

Constructing quasi-linear V̇O2 responses from nonlinear parameters

Oxygen uptake (V̇O2) kinetics have been shown to be governed by a nonlinear control system across a range of work rates. However, the linearity of the V̇O2 response to ramp incremental exercise would appear to be the result of a linear control system. This apparent contradiction could represent a balancing of changing V̇O2 kinetics parameter values across a range of work rates. To test this, six healthy men completed bouts of ramp incremental exercise at 15, 30, and 60 W/min (15R, 30R, 60R, respectively) and four bouts of an extended-step incremental exercise. V̇O2 parameter values were derived from the step exercise using two monoexponential models: one starting at time zero and encompassing the entire stage (MONO), and the other truncated to the first 5 min and allowing a time delay (5TD). The resulting parameter values were applied to an integrative model to estimate the ramp responses. As work rate increased, gain values increased (P < 0.001 for MONO and 5TD), as did mean response time (or time constant) values (MONO: P < 0.001; 5TD: P = 0.003). Up to maximal V̇O2 (V̇O(2 max)), the gains of the estimated ramp responses from both models were not different from the gains of the actual observed V̇O2 responses for 15R and 30R (15R: 11.3 ± 1.2, 11.7 ± 0.7, 10.9 ± 0.3; 30R: 10.5 ± 0.8, 11.0 ± 0.5, 10.7 ± 0.3 ml O2·min(-1)·W(-1), for actual, MONO, 5TD, respectively) but were significantly greater for 60R (8.7 ± 1.0, 9.9 ± 0.4, 10.3 ± 0.3 ml O2·min(-1)·W(-1) for actual, MONO, 5TD, respectively). Up to 80%V̇O(2 max) gain values were not significantly different for any ramp rate (P > 0.05 for all). We conclude that the apparent linearity of the V̇O2 response to ramp incremental exercise is consequent to a balancing of increasing time constant and gain parameter values.

Effects of interval and continuous training on O2 uptake kinetics during severe-intensity exercise initiated from an elevated metabolic baseline

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that V̇o2 kinetics would be speeded to a greater extent following repeated sprint training (RST), compared with continuous endurance training (ET), in the transition from moderate- to severe-intensity exercise. Twenty-three recreationally active subjects were randomly assigned to complete six sessions of ET (60–110 min of moderate-intensity cycling) or RST (four to seven 30-s all-out Wingate tests) over a 2-wk period. Subjects completed three identical work-to-work cycling exercise tests before and after the intervention period, consisting of baseline cycling at 20 W followed by sequential step increments to moderate- and severe-intensity work rates. The severe-intensity bout was continued to exhaustion on one occasion and was followed by a 60-s all-out sprint on another occasion. Phase II pulmonary V̇o2 kinetics were speeded by a similar magnitude in both the lower (ET pre, 28 ± 4; ET post, 22 ± 4 s; RST pre, 25 ± 8; RST post, 20 ± 7 s) and upper (ET pre, 50 ± 10; ET post, 39 ± 11 s; RST pre, 54 ± 7; RST post, 40 ± 11 s) steps of the work-to-work test following ET and RST ( P < 0.05). The tolerable duration of exercise and the total amount of sprint work completed in the exercise performance test were also similarly enhanced by ET and RST ( P < 0.05). Therefore, ET and RST provoked comparable improvements in V̇o2 kinetics and exercise performance in the transition from an elevated baseline work rate, with RST being a more time-efficient approach to elicit these adaptations.

Influence of prior exercise on VO2 kinetics subsequent exhaustive rowing performance

Prior exercise has the potential to enhance subsequent performance by accelerating the oxygen uptake (VO₂) kinetics. The present study investigated the effects of two different intensities of prior exercise on pulmonary VO₂ kinetics and exercise time during subsequent exhaustive rowing exercise. It was hypothesized that in prior heavy, but not prior moderate exercise condition, overall VO₂ kinetics would be faster and the VO₂ primary amplitude would be higher, leading to longer exercise time at VO_2max. Six subjects (mean ± SD; age: 22.9±4.5 yr; height: 181.2±7.1 cm and body mass: 75.5±3.4 kg) completed square-wave transitions to 100% of VO_2max from three different conditions: without prior exercise, with prior moderate and heavy exercise. VO₂ was measured using a telemetric portable gas analyser (K4b², Cosmed, Rome, Italy) and the data were modelled using either mono or double exponential fittings. The use of prior moderate exercise resulted in a faster VO₂ pulmonary kinetics response (τ₁ = 13.41±3.96 s), an improved performance in the time to exhaustion (238.8±50.2 s) and similar blood lactate concentrations ([La⁻]) values (11.8±1.7 mmol.L⁻¹) compared to the condition without prior exercise (16.0±5.56 s, 215.3±60.1 s and 10.7±1.2 mmol.L⁻¹, for τ₁, time sustained at VO_2max and [La⁻], respectively). Performance of prior heavy exercise, although useful in accelerating the VO₂ pulmonary kinetics response during a subsequent time to exhaustion exercise (τ₁ = 9.18±1.60 s), resulted in a shorter time sustained at VO_2max (155.5±46.0 s), while [La⁻] was similar (13.5±1.7 mmol.L⁻¹) compared to the other two conditions. Although both prior moderate and heavy exercise resulted in a faster pulmonary VO₂ kinetics response, only prior moderate exercise lead to improved rowing performance.

Oxygen uptake kinetics

Muscular exercise requires transitions to and from metabolic rates often exceeding an order of magnitude above resting and places prodigious demands on the oxidative machinery and O2-transport pathway. The science of kinetics seeks to characterize the dynamic profiles of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular systems and their integration to resolve the essential control mechanisms of muscle energetics and oxidative function: a goal not feasible using the steady-state response. Essential features of the O2 uptake (VO2) kinetics response are highly conserved across the animal kingdom. For a given metabolic demand, fast VO2 kinetics mandates a smaller O2 deficit, less substrate-level phosphorylation and high exercise tolerance. By the same token, slow VO2 kinetics incurs a high O2 deficit, presents a greater challenge to homeostasis and presages poor exercise tolerance. Compelling evidence supports that, in healthy individuals walking, running, or cycling upright, VO2 kinetics control resides within the exercising muscle(s) and is therefore not dependent upon, or limited by, upstream O2-transport systems. However, disease, aging, and other imposed constraints may redistribute VO2 kinetics control more proximally within the O2-transport system. Greater understanding of VO2 kinetics control and, in particular, its relation to the plasticity of the O2-transport/utilization system is considered important for improving the human condition, not just in athletic populations, but crucially for patients suffering from pathologically slowed VO2 kinetics as well as the burgeoning elderly population.

Beetroot juice supplementation speeds O2 uptake kinetics and improves exercise tolerance during severe-intensity exercise initiated from an elevated metabolic rate

Recent research has suggested that dietary nitrate (NO3(-)) supplementation might alter the physiological responses to exercise via specific effects on type II muscle. Severe-intensity exercise initiated from an elevated metabolic rate would be expected to enhance the proportional activation of higher-order (type II) muscle fibers. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to test the hypothesis that, compared with placebo (PL), NO3(-)-rich beetroot juice (BR) supplementation would speed the phase II VO2 kinetics (τ(p)) and enhance exercise tolerance during severe-intensity exercise initiated from a baseline of moderate-intensity exercise. Nine healthy, physically active subjects were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to receive BR (140 ml/day, containing ~8 mmol of NO3(-)) and PL (140 ml/day, containing ~0.003 mmol of NO3(-)) for 6 days. On days 4, 5, and 6 of the supplementation periods, subjects completed a double-step exercise protocol that included transitions from unloaded to moderate-intensity exercise (U→M) followed immediately by moderate to severe-intensity exercise (M→S). Compared with PL, BR elevated resting plasma nitrite concentration (PL: 65 ± 32 vs. BR: 348 ± 170 nM, P < 0.01) and reduced the VO2 τ(p) in M→S (PL: 46 ± 13 vs. BR: 36 ± 10 s, P < 0.05) but not U→M (PL: 25 ± 4 vs. BR: 27 ± 6 s, P > 0.05). During M→S exercise, the faster VO2 kinetics coincided with faster near-infrared spectroscopy-derived muscle [deoxyhemoglobin] kinetics (τ; PL: 20 ± 9 vs. BR: 10 ± 3 s, P < 0.05) and a 22% greater time-to-task failure (PL: 521 ± 158 vs. BR: 635 ± 258 s, P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with NO3(-)-rich BR juice speeds VO2 kinetics and enhances exercise tolerance during severe-intensity exercise when initiated from an elevated metabolic rate.

High-intensity interval training speeds the adjustment of pulmonary O2 uptake, but not muscle deoxygenation, during moderate-intensity exercise transitions initiated from low and elevated baseline metabolic rates

During step transitions in work rate (WR) within the moderate-intensity (MOD) exercise domain, pulmonary O2 uptake (Vo2p) kinetics are slowed, and Vo2p gain (ΔVo2p/ΔWR) is greater when exercise is initiated from an elevated metabolic rate. High-intensity interval training (HIT) has been shown to speed Vo2p kinetics when step transitions to MOD exercise are initiated from light-intensity baseline metabolic rates. The effects of HIT on step transitions initiated from elevated metabolic rates have not been established. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of HIT on Vo2p kinetics during transitions from low and elevated metabolic rates, within the MOD domain. Eight young, untrained men completed 12 sessions of HIT (spanning 4 wk). HIT consisted of 8-12 1-min intervals, cycling at a WR corresponding to 110% of pretraining maximal WR (WRmax). Pre-, mid- and posttraining, subjects completed a ramp-incremental test to determine maximum O2 uptake, WRmax, and estimated lactate threshold (θL). Participants additionally completed double-step constant-load tests, consisting of step transitions from 20 W → Δ45% θL [lower step (LS)] and Δ45 → 90% θL [upper step (US)]. HIT led to increases in maximum O2 uptake (P < 0.05) and WRmax (P < 0.01), and τVo2p of both lower and upper MOD step transitions were reduced by ∼40% (LS: 24 s → 15 s; US: 45 s → 25 s) (P < 0.01). However, the time course of adjustment of local muscle deoxygenation was unchanged in the LS and US. These results suggest that speeding of Vo2p kinetics in both the LS and US may be due, in part, to an improved matching of muscle O2 utilization to microvascular O2 delivery within the working muscle following 12 sessions of HIT, although muscle metabolic adaptations cannot be discounted.

Adjustments of pulmonary O2 uptake and muscle deoxygenation during ramp incremental exercise and constant-load moderate-intensity exercise in young and older adults

The matching of muscle O(2) delivery to O(2) utilization can be inferred from the adjustments in muscle deoxygenation (Δ[HHb]) and pulmonary O(2) uptake (Vo(2p)). This study examined the adjustments of Vo(2p) and Δ[HHb] during ramp incremental (RI) and constant-load (CL) exercise in adult males. Ten young adults (YA; age: 25 ± 5 yr) and nine older adults (OA; age: 70 ± 3 yr) completed two RI tests and six CL step transitions to a work rate (WR) corresponding to 1) 80% of the estimated lactate threshold (same relative WR) and 2) 50 W (same absolute WR). Vo(2p) was measured breath by breath, and Δ[HHb] of the vastus lateralis was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy. Δ[HHb]-WR profiles were normalized from baseline (0%) to peak Δ[HHb] (100%) and fit using a sigmoid function. The sigmoid slope (d) was greater (P < 0.05) in OA (0.027 ± 0.01%/W) compared with YA (0.017 ± 0.01%/W), and the c/d value (a value corresponding to 50% of the amplitude) was smaller (P < 0.05) for OA (133 ± 40 W) than for YA (195 ± 51 W). No age-related differences in the sigmoid parameters were reported when WR was expressed as a percentage of peak WR. Vo(2p) kinetics compared with Δ[HHb] kinetics for the 50-W transition were similar between YA and OA; however, Δ[HHb] kinetics during the transition to 80% of the lactate threshold were faster than Vo(2p) kinetics in both groups. The greater reliance on O(2) extraction displayed in OA during RI exercise suggests a lower O(2) delivery-to-O(2) utilization relationship at a given absolute WR compared with YA.

Slow component of VO2 kinetics: mechanistic bases and practical applications

The V·O₂ slow component, a slowly developing increase in V·O₂ during constant-work-rate exercise performed above the lactate threshold, represents a progressive loss of skeletal muscle contractile efficiency and is associated with the fatigue process. This brief review outlines the current state of knowledge concerning the mechanistic bases of the V·O₂ slow component and describes practical interventions that can attenuate the slow component and thus enhance exercise tolerance. There is strong evidence that, during constant-work-rate exercise, the development of the V·O₂ slow component is associated with the progressive recruitment of additional (type II) muscle fibers that are presumed to have lower efficiency. Recent studies, however, indicate that muscle efficiency is also lowered (resulting in a "mirror-image" V·O₂ slow component) during fatiguing, high-intensity exercise in which additional fiber recruitment is unlikely or impossible. Therefore, it seems that muscle fatigue underpins the V·O₂ slow component, although the greater fatigue sensitivity of recruited type II fibers might still play a crucial role in the loss of muscle efficiency in both situations. Several interventions can reduce the magnitude of the V·O₂ slow component, and these are typically associated with an enhanced exercise tolerance. These include endurance training, inspiratory muscle training, priming exercise, dietary nitrate supplementation, and the inspiration of hyperoxic gas. All of these interventions reduce muscle fatigue development either by improving muscle oxidative capacity and thus metabolic stability or by enhancing bulk muscle O2 delivery or local Q·O₂-to-V·O₂ matching. Future honing of these interventions to maximize their impact on the V·O₂ slow component might improve sports performance in athletes and exercise tolerance in the elderly or in patient populations.

Muscle fiber recruitment and the slow component of O2 uptake: constant work rate vs. all-out sprint exercise

The slow component of pulmonary O(2) uptake (Vo(2)) during constant work rate (CWR) high-intensity exercise has been attributed to the progressive recruitment of (type II) muscle fibers. We tested the following hypotheses: 1) the Vo(2) slow component gain would be greater in a 3-min all-out cycle test than in a work-matched CWR test, and 2) the all-out test would be associated with a progressive decline, and the CWR test with a progressive increase, in muscle activation, as estimated from the electromyogram (EMG) of the vastus lateralis muscle. Eight men (aged 21-39 yr) completed a ramp incremental test, a 3-min all-out test, and a work- and time-matched CWR test to exhaustion. The maximum Vo(2) attained in an initial ramp incremental test (3.97 ± 0.83 l/min) was reached in both experimental tests (3.99 ± 0.84 and 4.03 ± 0.76 l/min for all-out and CWR, respectively). The Vo(2) slow component was greater (P < 0.05) in the all-out test (1.21 ± 0.31 l/min, 4.2 ± 2.2 ml·min(-1)·W(-1)) than in the CWR test (0.59 ± 0.22 l/min, 1.70 ± 0.5 ml·min(-1)·W(-1)). The integrated EMG declined by 26% (P < 0.001) during the all-out test and increased by 60% (P < 0.05) during the CWR test from the first 30 s to the last 30 s of exercise. The considerable reduction in muscle efficiency in the all-out test in the face of a progressively falling integrated EMG indicates that progressive fiber recruitment is not requisite for development of the Vo(2) slow component during voluntary exercise in humans.

Elevated baseline VO2 per se does not slow O2 uptake kinetics during work-to-work exercise transitions

We investigated whether the characteristic slowing of pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics during "work-to-work" exercise is attributable to elevations in baseline metabolic rate (VO2) as opposed to the elevated baseline work rate, per se. We hypothesized that a step transition to a higher work rate from "unloaded" cycling, but with elevations in VO2 [and heart rate (HR)] reflective of a work-to-work transition, would result in a lengthened phase II time constant (τ(p)). Seven male subjects (mean ± SD age 27 ± 10 yr) completed 1) transitions to a high-intensity work rate from a moderate-intensity work rate (M→H) and 2) two consecutive bouts of high-intensity exercise (U→H and E→H, respectively) initiated from unloaded cycling, with the time separating the exercise bouts chosen such that the baseline VO2 for the second transition was similar to the baseline VO2 for the M→H transition. The τ(p) for M→H (48 ± 16 s) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than the τ(p) for U→H (28 ± 8 s) and E→H (27 ± 6 s), which did not differ significantly. These findings suggest that the altered VO2 dynamics that are observed during work-to-work exercise are not related to the elevated baseline VO2 (or HR) per se; rather, these effects appear to be linked to the elevated baseline work rate, which would be expected to dictate the subsequent muscle fiber recruitment profile.

The influence of priming exercise on oxygen uptake, cardiac output, and muscle oxygenation kinetics during very heavy-intensity exercise in 9- to 13-yr-old boys

The present study examined the effect of priming exercise on O2 uptake (V̇o2) kinetics during subsequent very heavy exercise in eight 9- to 13-yr-old boys. We hypothesised that priming exercise would 1) elevate muscle O2 delivery prior to the subsequent bout of very heavy exercise, 2) have no effect on the phase II V̇o2 τ, 3) elevate the phase II V̇o2 total amplitude, and 4) reduce the magnitude of the V̇o2 slow component. Each participant completed repeat 6-min bouts of very heavy-intensity cycling exercise separated by 6 min of light pedaling. During the tests V̇o2, muscle oxygenation (near infrared spectroscopy), and cardiac output (Q̇) (thoracic impedance) were determined. Priming exercise increased baseline muscle oxygenation and elevated Q̇ at baseline and throughout the second exercise bout. The phase II V̇o2 τ was not altered by priming exercise ( bout 1: 22 ± 7 s vs. bout 2: 20 ± 4 s; P = 0.30). However, the time constant describing the entire V̇o2 response from start to end of exercise was accelerated ( bout 1: 43 ± 8 s vs. bout 2: 36 ± 5 s; P = 0.002) due to an increased total phase II V̇o2 amplitude ( bout 1: 1.73 ± 0.33 l/min vs. bout 2: 1.80 ± 0.59 l/min; P = 0.002) and a reduced V̇o2 slow component amplitude ( bout 1: 0.18 ± 0.08 l/min vs. bout 2: 0.12 ± 0.09 l/min; P = 0.048). These results suggest that phase II V̇o2 kinetics in young boys is principally limited by intrinsic muscle metabolic factors, whereas the V̇o2 total phase II and slow component amplitudes may be O2 delivery sensitive.

Influence of body position on muscle deoxy[Hb+Mb] during ramp cycle exercise

We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to test the hypothesis that body position alters the sigmoidal response profile of muscle fractional O(2) extraction (estimated using deoxy[Hb+Mb]) during incremental cycle exercise. Seven male subjects (mean±SD age 32±13 years) completed a ramp incremental cycling test to exhaustion (30W/min) in both the supine and upright body positions. The sigmoidal (as opposed to hyperbolic) model that provided the better fit to deoxy[Hb+Mb] data during upright cycling was also present for the supine response; however, the slope of the sigmoid was increased (upright: 0.052±0.012 vs. supine: 0.090±0.036%⋅%P(peak)(-1); P<0.05) and a plateau occurred at a lower work rate (upright: 83±8 vs. supine: 68±19%P(peak)(-1); P<0.05) during supine exercise. These changes occurred in the absence of a leftward shift of the sigmoid. We also found a significantly greater deltaV(O)₂/deltaW slope above compared to below gas exchange threshold (GET) for both conditions (upright: 9.8±0.5 vs. 8.2±0.9; supine: 10.7±0.9 vs. 8.0±0.8) and for supine compared to upright cycling above GET. These findings suggest that the supine posture affects O₂ extraction and V(O)₂ kinetics to a greater extent as work rate progresses during ramp incremental exercise.

Influence of priming exercise on muscle [PCr] and pulmonary O2 uptake dynamics during 'work-to-work' knee-extension exercise

Metabolic transitions from rest to high-intensity exercise were divided into two discrete steps (i.e., rest-to-moderate-intensity (R-->M) and moderate-to-high-intensity (M-->H)) to explore the effect of prior high-intensity 'priming' exercise on intramuscular [PCr] and pulmonary VO₂ kinetics for different sections of the motor unit pool. It was hypothesized that [PCr] and VO₂ kinetics would be unaffected by priming during R-->M exercise, but that the time constants (tau) describing the fundamental [PCr] response and the phase II VO₂ response would be significantly reduced by priming for M-->H exercise. On three separate occasions, six male subjects completed two identical R-->M/M-->H 'work-to-work' prone knee-extension exercise bouts separated by 5min rest. Two trials were performed with measurement of pulmonary VO₂ and the integrated electromyogram (iEMG) of the right m. vastus lateralis. The third trial was performed within the bore of a 1.5-T superconducting magnet for (31)P-MRS assessment of muscle metabolic responses. Priming did not significantly affect the [PCr] or VO₂ tau during R-->M ([PCr] tau Unprimed: 24+/-16 vs. Primed: 22+/-14s; VO₂ tau Unprimed: 26+/-8 vs. Primed: 25+/-9s) or M-->H transitions ([PCr] tau Unprimed: 30+/-5 vs. Primed: 32+/-7s; VO₂ tau Unprimed: 37+/-5 vs. Primed: 38+/-9s). However, it did reduce the amplitudes of the [PCr] and VO₂ slow components by 50% and 46%, respectively, during M-->H (P<0.05 for both comparisons). These effects were accompanied by iEMG changes suggesting reduced muscle fiber activation during M-->H exercise after priming. It is concluded that the tau for the initial exponential change of muscle [PCr] and pulmonary VO₂ following the transition from moderate-to-high-intensity prone knee-extension exercise is not altered by priming exercise.

Priming exercise speeds pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics during supine “work-to-work” high-intensity cycle exercise

We manipulated the baseline metabolic rate and body position to explore the effect of the interaction between recruitment of discrete sections of the muscle fiber pool and muscle O2 delivery on pulmonary O2 uptake (V̇o2) kinetics during cycle exercise. We hypothesized that phase II V̇o2 kinetics (τp) in the transition from moderate- to severe-intensity exercise would be significantly slower in the supine than upright position because of a compromise to muscle perfusion and that a priming bout of severe-intensity exercise would return τp during supine exercise to τp during upright exercise. Eight male subjects [35 ± 13 (SD) yr] completed a series of “step” transitions to severe-intensity cycle exercise from an “unloaded” (20-W) baseline and a baseline of moderate-intensity exercise in the supine and upright body positions. τp was not significantly different between supine and upright exercise during transitions from a 20-W baseline to moderate- or severe-intensity exercise but was significantly greater during moderate- to severe-intensity exercise in the supine position (54 ± 19 vs. 38 ± 10 s, P < 0.05). Priming significantly reduced τp during moderate- to severe-intensity supine exercise (34 ± 9 s), returning it to a value that was not significantly different from τp in the upright position. This effect occurred in the absence of changes in estimated muscle fractional O2 extraction (from the near-infrared spectroscopy-derived deoxygenated Hb concentration signal), such that the priming-induced facilitation of muscle blood flow matched increased O2 utilization in the recruited fibers, resulting in a speeding of V̇o2 kinetics. These findings suggest that, during supine cycling, priming speeds V̇o2 kinetics by providing an increased driving pressure for O2 diffusion in the higher-order (i.e., type II) fibers, which would be recruited in the transition from moderate- to severe-intensity exercise and are known to be especially sensitive to limitations in O2 supply.

Influence of priming exercise on pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics during transitions to high-intensity exercise at extreme pedal rates

We investigated the pedal rate dependency of the effect of priming exercise on pulmonary oxygen uptake (Vo(2)) kinetics. Seven healthy men completed two, 6-min bouts of high-intensity cycle exercise (separated by 6 min of rest) using different combinations of extreme pedal rates for the priming and criterion exercise bouts (i.e., 35-->35, 35-->115, 115-->35, and 115-->115 rev/min). Pulmonary gas exchange and heart rate were measured breath-by-breath, and muscle oxygenation was assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy. When the priming bout was performed at 35 rev/min (35-->35 and 35-->115 conditions), the phase II Vo(2) time constant (tau) was not significantly altered (bout 1: 31 +/- 7 vs. bout 2: 30 +/- 5 s and bout 1: 48 +/- 16 vs. bout 2: 46 +/- 21 s, respectively). However, when the priming bout was performed at 115 rev/min (115-->35 and 115-->115 conditions), the phase II tau was significantly reduced (bout 1: 31 +/- 7 vs. bout 2: 26 +/- 5 s and bout 1: 48 +/- 16 vs. bout 2: 39 +/- 9 s, respectively, P < 0.05). Muscle oxygenation was significantly higher after priming exercise in all four conditions, but significant effects on Vo(2) kinetics were only evident when muscle O(2) extraction (measured as Delta[deoxyhemoglobin]/DeltaVo(2)) was elevated in the fundamental response phase. These data indicate that prior high-intensity exercise at a high pedal rate can speed Vo(2) kinetics during subsequent high-intensity exercise, presumably through specific priming effects on type II muscle fibers.

Influence of priming exercise on pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics during transitions to high-intensity exercise from an elevated baseline

It has been suggested that the slower O2 uptake (V̇o2) kinetics observed when exercise is initiated from an elevated baseline metabolic rate are linked to an impairment of muscle O2 delivery. We hypothesized that “priming” exercise would significantly reduce the phase II time constant (τ) during subsequent severe-intensity cycle exercise initiated from an elevated baseline metabolic rate. Seven healthy men completed exercise transitions to 70% of the difference between gas exchange threshold (GET) and peak V̇o2 from a moderate-intensity baseline (90% GET) on three occasions in each of the “unprimed” and “primed” conditions. Pulmonary gas exchange, heart rate, and the electromyogram of m. vastus lateralis were measured during all tests. The phase II V̇o2 kinetics were slower when severe exercise was initiated from a baseline of moderate exercise compared with unloaded pedaling (mean ± SD τ, 42 ± 15 vs. 33 ± 8 s; P < 0.05), but were not accelerated by priming exercise (42 ± 17 s; P > 0.05). The amplitude of the V̇o2 slow component and the change in electromyogram from minutes 2 to 6 were both significantly reduced following priming exercise (V̇o2 slow component: from 0.47 ± 0.09 to 0.27 ± 0.13 l/min; change in integrated electromyogram between 2 and 6 min: from 51 ± 35 to 26±43% of baseline; P < 0.05 for both comparisons). These results indicate that the slower phase II V̇o2 kinetics observed during transitions to severe exercise from an elevated baseline are not altered by priming exercise, but that the reduced V̇o2 slow component may be linked to changes in muscle fiber activation.

Muscle [phosphocreatine] dynamics following the onset of exercise in humans: the influence of baseline work-rate

The kinetics of pulmonary O(2) uptake is known to be substantially slower when exercise is initiated from a baseline of lower-intensity exercise rather than from rest. However, it is not known whether putative intracellular regulators of mitochondrial respiration (and in particular the phosphocreatine concentration, [PCr]) show similar non-linearities in their response dynamics. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the influence of baseline metabolic rate on muscle [PCr] kinetics (as assessed using (31)P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy) following the onset of exercise. Seven male subjects completed 'step' tests to heavy-intensity exercise (80% of peak work-rate) from a resting baseline and also from a baseline of moderate-intensity exercise (40% of peak work-rate) using a single-leg knee-extensor ergometer situated inside the bore of a 1.5 T super-conducting magnet. The time constant describing the kinetics of the initial exponential-like fall in [PCr] was significantly different between rest-to-moderate (25 +/- 14 s), rest-to-heavy (48 +/- 11 s) and moderate-to-heavy exercise (95 +/- 40 s) (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). A delayed-onset 'slow component' in the [PCr] response was observed in all subjects during rest-to-heavy exercise, but was attenuated in the moderate-to-heavy exercise condition. These data indicate that muscle [PCr] kinetics does not conform to 'linear, first-order' behaviour during dynamic exercise, and thus have implications for understanding the regulation of muscle oxidative metabolism.