AEROBIC TRAINING AND RECOVERY VO2 KINETICS AFTER SUPRAMAXIMAL EXERCISE

Abstract

1130 The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an aerobic training program on recovery VO2 kinetics after supramaximal exercise. Ten untrained males (age: 22.4 ± 2.1 yr.; weight: 79.5 ± 12.3 kg; height: 176.5 ± 8.5 cm; VO2max<50 ml·kg-1·min-1) completed six weeks of aerobic training. The subjects performed pre and post training VO2max tests and Anaerobic Speed Tests (ASTs). The ASTs were individually determined to produce tests of two minutes in duration (2 min AST). Recovery VO2 data was collected following the 2 min AST and fit with a double exponential function to determine the time constants (τ1 and τ2). Significant differences were evident between pre and post training relative and absolute VO2max scores (46.38 ± 3.74 ml·kg-1·min-1 vs. 51.82 ± 5.21 ml·kg-1·min-1 and 3.61 ± 0.42 L·min-1 vs. 4.00 ± 0.40 L·min-1; p<0.05). VO2 rate components were significantly decreased following the endurance training program (τ1 = 2.69 ± 0.19 min vs. 2.29 ± 1.40 min and τ2 = 43.74 ± 5.12 min vs. 39.63± 4.24 min; p<0.05). No significant relationships were evident between VO2max and the VO2 recovery rates (p>0.05). These results indicate that the recovery VO2 kinetics associated with high intensity anaerobic exercise can be decreased through aerobic training. The findings also suggest that the VO2 recovery rates associated with supramaximal work do not appear to be related to VO2max.