VO₂ Kinetics Determined by PRBS Techniques Differentiate Elite Endurance Runners from Elite Sprinters

The aim of the study was to examine whether a measure of oxygen uptake (VO₂) kinetics could differentiate between 12 elite male endurance (3000-10000m) runners and 12 elite male sprint (100-400 m) runners using a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) exercise protocol. All exercise tests were performed on an electrically braked cycle ergometer at a constant pedal frequency of 1 Hz. The PRBS exercise intensities alternated between 25 W and 85 W for three consecutive PRBS cycles of 300 s. VO₂ was measured breath-by-breath and results were analysed by Fourier techniques in the frequency domain. Blood lactate concentrations taken pre and post testing were below 2 mM. Significantly greater amplitude components were observed in the endurance runners than sprinters at frequencies 6.7 mHz (6.71±1.09 and 5.47±0.95 ml · min^-1 · W^-1, respectively) P<0.05 and 10mHz (4.97±0.98 and 3.56±0.69ml-min^-1 · W^-1 respectively) P<0.01. Phase shift components were significantly shorter in the endurance runners compared to the sprinters at frequency 3.3 mHz (- 35.45±4.31 and - 41.26±5.82 degrees respectively) P<0.05. The results of this study show that VO₂ kinetics are differentially faster in elite endurance runners than in elite sprinters. This supports the development of the PRBS technique as a test of sports performance.

Key words

VO₂ kinetics - PRBS - elite athletes - sprint - endurance.