Research article summary (published 29 Apr 2003):

Pattern of energy expenditure during simulated competition.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine how athletes spontaneously use their energetic reserves when the only instruction was to finish in minimal time, and whether experience from repeated performance changes the strategy of recreational athletes. METHODS: Recreational road cyclists/speed skaters (N = 9) completed three laboratory time trials of 1500 m on a windload braked cycle. The pattern of energy use was calculated from total work and from the work attributable to aerobic metabolism, which allowed computation of anaerobic energy use. Regional level speed skaters (N = 8) also performed a single 1500-m time trial with the same protocol and measurements. RESULTS: The serial trials were completed in (mean +/- SD) 133.8 +/- 6.6, 133.9 +/- 5.8, 133.8 +/- 5.5 s (P > 0.05 among trials); and in 125.7 +/- 10.9 s in the skaters (P < 0.05 vs cyclists). The [OV0312]O(2peak) during the terminal 200 m was similar within trials (3.23 +/- 0.44, 3.34 +/- 0.44, 3.30 +/- 0.51 (P > 0.05)) versus 3.91 +/- 0.68 L.min-1 in the skaters (P < 0.05 vs cyclists). In all events, the initial power output and anaerobic energy use was high and decayed to a more or less constant value ( approximately 25% of peak) over the remainder of the event. Contrary to predictions based on an assumed "all out" starting strategy, the subjects reserved some of their ability to perform anaerobic work for a terminal acceleration. The total work accomplished was not different between trials (43.53, 43.78, and 47.48 kJ in the recreational athletes, or between the cyclists and skaters (47.79 kJ). The work attributable to anaerobic sources was not different between the rides (20.67, 20.53, and 21.12 kJ in the recreational athletes). In the skaters, the work attributable to anaerobic sources was significantly larger versus the cyclists (24.67 kJ). CONCLUSION: Energy expenditure during high-intensity cycling seems: 1) to be expended in a manner that allows the athlete to preserve an anaerobic energetic contribution throughout an event, 2) does not appear to have a large learning effect in already well trained cyclists, and 3) anaerobic energy expenditure may be the performance discriminating factor among groups of athletes.

Author information

Author/s: Foster, Carl (C); De Koning, Jos J (JJ); Hettinga, Floor (F); Lampen, Joanne (J); La Clair, Kerry L (KL); Dodge, Christopher (C); Bobbert, Maarten (M); Porcari, John P (JP);

Affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. foster.carl(-atsign-)uwlax.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Medicine and science in sports and exercise (Med Sci Sports Exerc), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-May; vol 35 (issue 5) : pp 826-31

Dates: Created 2003/05/16; Completed 2003/08/14; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 12750593, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Anaerobic Threshold - physiology Bicycling - physiology Energy Metabolism - physiology Exercise Test Female Humans

Male Oxygen Consumption Physical Exertion - physiology Probability Prospective Studies Sensitivity and Specificity Skating - physiology

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