Effects of Severe Prior Exercise on Assessment of Maximal Oxygen Uptake during One- versus Two-Legged Cycling

Abstract

Abstract Physiological responses to consecutive (separated by 7 minutes) continuous type I and two-legged (2L) maximal oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O2 max) tests have been studied on 11 male subjects. One-legged cycling tests were conducted as either two consecutive right-legged (R) tests or a left-legged (L) test preceeding an R. It was hypothesized that series R-R would result in greater inhibition of second test performance than series L-R, owing to more rapid attainment of peak muscle lactate accumulation. It was further hypothesized that second test performance with two legs would be more severely restricted than with one leg, owing to reduced cardiac output ([Qdot]) attributable to pooling of blood in immobilized areas. No reductions in [Vdot]O2 max were found from test 1 (T1) to test 2 (T2) in either one-legged series. Performance time was significantly (p < .05) reduced in T2 of each one-legged series; however, no differences were found between T2 tests. Limiting factors associated with T2 performance in ...