Accumulated Oxygen Deficit during Ramp Exercise

Abstract

This study aimed to compare oxygen deficit during exhaustive ramp exercise (OD_ramp and OD_lag) with maximal oxygen deficit during a high-intensity constant-power test (MAOD). OD_ramp was estimated from the difference between oxygen demand and actual oxygen uptake. OD_lag was estimated using a simple equation assuming a linear increase in oxygen uptake lagging behind metabolic requirement. After a first test providing estimation of P_peak, 12 healthy males did two 15 W · min^-1 and two 30 W · min^-1 ramp tests to evaluate in duplicate OD_ramp and OD_lag and an exhaustive exercise at 105 % of P_peak to evaluate MAOD. OD_ramp from the 15 W · min^-1 tests (1.50 ± 1.83 and 2.60 ± 2.12 l) and from the 30 W · min^-1 tests (2.41 ± 1.00 and 2.72 ± 1.23 l) did not differ from MAOD (2.33 ± 0.50 l). Contrary to OD_lag estimated from the 15 W · min^-1 tests (2.27 ± 0.30 and 2.31 ± 0.31 l), OD_lag from the 30 W · min^-1 tests (2.51 ± 0.34 and 2.52 ± 0.36 l) was significantly greater than MAOD (p < 0.05). The conclusion is that the oxygen deficit would accumulate progressively during a ramp test until attaining the maximal oxygen deficit. This measurement would not however give reliable index of an individual subject due to the elevated test-retest variability.

Key words

maximal accumulated oxygen deficit - anaerobic capacity - exercise testing

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