Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(02): 113-119
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1389943
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Influence of Hypoxia on the Power-duration Relationship during High-intensity Exercise

L. Parker Simpson
1   Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
,
A. M. Jones
1   Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
,
P. F. Skiba
1   Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
,
A. Vanhatalo
1   Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
,
D. Wilkerson
1   Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 25 July 2014

Publication Date:
20 October 2014 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

We investigated the influence of hypoxia on the asymptote (critical power, CP) and the curvature constant (W′) of the hyperbolic power-duration relationship, as measured by both conventional and all-out testing procedures. 13 females completed 5 constant-power prediction trials and a 3-min all-out test to estimate CP and W′, in both normoxia (N) and moderate hypoxia (H; FiO2=0.13). CP was significantly reduced in hypoxia compared to normoxia when estimated by conventional (H:132±17 vs. N:175±25 W; P<0.001) and all-out methods (H:134±23 vs. N:172±30 W; P<0.01). The W′ was not significantly different in hypoxia compared to normoxia when established by conventional (H:12.3±2.7 vs. N:13.2±2.2 kJ) and all-out methods (H:12.0±2.6 vs. N:12.5±1.4 kJ). Estimates of CP and W′ obtained with conventional and all-out methods were not significantly different either in normoxia or hypoxia. There was a significant relationship between the % change in CP relative to V̇;o2peak and the % change in W′ in normoxia compared to hypoxia (r=0.83, P<0.001; conventional test). Changes in the W′ in hypoxia are related to changes in the CP relative to V̇o2peak, suggesting that the W′ may not be defined simply as an ‘anaerobic’ energy store.

Key words

power-duration relationship - critical power - curvature constant - hypoxia - exercise tolerance
 

  • References

  • 1 Amann M, Romer LM, Subudhi AW, Pegelow DF, Dempsey JA. Severity of arterial hypoxaemia affects the relative contributions of peripheral muscle fatigue to exercise performance in healthy humans. J Physiol 2007; 15: 389-403
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Bailey SJ, Vanhatalo A, DiMenna FJ, Wilkerson DP, Jones AM. Fast-start strategy improves VO2 kinetics and high intensity exercise performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011; 43: 457-467
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Beaver WL, Wasserman K, Whipp BJ. A new method for detecting anaerobic threshold by gas exchange. J Appl Physiol 1986; 60: 2020-2027
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Bishop D, Jenkins DG, Howard A. The critical power function is dependent on the duration of the predictive exercise test chosen. Int J Sports Med 1988; 19: 125-129
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Burnley M, Doust JH, Vanhatalo A. A 3-min all-out test to determine peak oxygen uptake and the maximal steady state. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006; 38: 1995-2003
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Burnley M, Jones AM. Oxygen uptake kinetics as a determinant of sports performance. Eur J Sports Sci 2007; 7: 63-79
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Calbet JA, De Paz JA, Garatachea N, Cabaz de Vaca S, Chavarren J. Anaerobic energy provision does not limit Wingate exercise performance in endurance-trained cyclists. J Appl Physiol 2003; 94: 668-676
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Chidnok W, Dimenna FJ, Bailey SJ, Wilkerson DP, Vanhatalo A, Jones AM. Effects of pacing strategy on work done above critical power during high-intensity exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2013; 45: 1377-1385
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Dekerle J, Mucci P, Carter H. Influence of moderate hypoxia on tolerance to high-intensity exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 112: 327-335
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Ferguson C, Whipp BJ, Cathcart AJ, Rossiter HB, Turner AP, Ward SA. Effects of prior very-heavy intensity exercise on indices of aerobic function and high-intensity exercise tolerance. J Appl Physiol 2007; 103: 812-822
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Fitts RH. Cellular mechanisms of muscle fatigue. Physiol Rev 1994; 74: 49-94
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Fukuba Y, Miura A, Endo M, Kan A, Yanagawa K, Whipp BJ. The curvature constant parameter of the power-duration curve for varied-power exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003; 35: 1413-1418
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sports and exercise science research: 2014 update. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 1025-1028
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Hill DW. The critical power concept. A review. Sports Med 1993; 16: 237-254
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Hill DW, Poole DC, Smith JC. The relationship between power and time to achieve VO2 max. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 709-714
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Hogan MC, Richardson RS, Haesler LJ. Human muscle performance and PCr hydrolysis with varied inspired oxygen fractions: a 31P-MRS study. J Appl Physiol 1999; 86: 1367-1373
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Jenkins DG, Quigley BM. Endurance training enhances critical power. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1992; 24: 1283-1289
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Jones AM, Vanhatalo A, Burnley M, Morton RH, Poole DC. Critical power: implications for determination of V̇o2max and exercise tolerance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2014; 95: 1876-1890
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Jones AM, Wilkerson DP, Burnley M, Koppo K. Prior Heavy exercise enhances performance during subsequent perimaximal exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003; 35: 2085-2092
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Jones AM, Wilkerson DP, DiMenna FJ, Fulford J, Poole DC. Muscle metabolic responses to exercise above and below the “critical power” assessed using 31P-MRS. Am J Physiol 2008; 294: R585-R593
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 Linnarsson D, Karlsson J, Fagraeus L, Saltin B. Muscle metabolites and oxygen deficit with exercise in hypoxia and hyperoxia. J Appl Physiol 1974; 36: 399-402
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Miura A, Kino F, Kajitani S, Sato H, Fukuba Y. The effect of oral creatine supplementation on the curvature constant of the power-duration curve for cycle ergometry in humans. Jpn J Physiol 1999; 49: 169-174
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Monod H, Scherrer J. The work capacity of a synergic muscular group. Ergonomics 1965; 8: 329-338
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Moritani T, Nagata A, deVries HA, Muro M. Critical power as a measure of physical work capacity and anaerobic threshold. Ergonomics 1981; 24: 339-350
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Murgatroyd SR, Ferguson C, Ward SA, Whipp BJ, Rossiter HB. Pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics as a determinant of high-intensity exercise tolerance in humans. J Appl Physiol 2011; 110: 1598-1606
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 26 Parker Simpson L, Jones AM, Vanhatalo A, Wilkerson DP. Influence of initial metabolic rate on the power-duration relationship for all-out exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012; 112: 2467-2473
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 27 Poole DC, Ward SA, Gardner GW, Whipp BJ. Metabolic and respiratory profile of the upper limit for prolonged exercise in man. Ergonomics 1988; 31: 1265-1279
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Richardson RS, Noyszewski EA, Leigh JS, Wagner PD. Lactate efflux from exercising human skeletal muscle: role of intracellular PO2 . J Appl Physiol 1998; 85: 627-634
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Vanhatalo A, Doust JH, Burnley M. Determination of critical power using a 3-min all-out cycling test. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007; 39: 548-555
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 30 Vanhatalo A, Doust JH, Burnley M. Robustness of a 3-min all-out cycling test to manipulations of power profile and cadence in humans. Exp Physiol 2008; 93: 383-390
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 31 Vanhatalo A, Doust JH, Burnley M. A 3-min all-out cycling test is sensitive to a change in critical power. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008; 40: 1693-1699
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 32 Vanhatalo A, Fulford J, DiMenna F, Jones AM. Influence of hyperoxia on muscle metabolic responses and the power-duration relationship during severe-intensity exercise in humans: a 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Exp Physiol 2010; 95: 528-540
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 33 Vanhatalo A, Jones AM, Burnley M. Application of critical power in sport. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2011; 6: 128-1236
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 34 Valli G, Cogo A, Passino C, Bonardi D, Morici G, Fasano V, Agnesi M, Bernadi L, Ferrazza AM, Ward SA, Palange P. Exercise intolerance at high altitude (5050 m): Critical power and W′. Resp Physiol Neurobiol 2011; 177: 333-341
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 35 Westerblad H, Allen DG. Cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle fatigue. Adv Exp Med Biol 2003; 538: 563-570
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 36 Weyand PG, Lee CS, Martinez-Ruiz R, Bundle MW, Bellizzi MJ, Wright S. High-speed running performance is largely unaffected by hypoxic reductions in aerobic power. J Appl Physiol 1999; 86: 2059-2064
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar