Excess Postexercise Oxygen Consumption following Repeated Bouts of Anaerobic Exercise

Abstract

PURPOSE: Repeated anaerobic bouts are often used in training and observed in athletic competition. To our knowledge, the elevation in postexercise metabolism following exercise bouts of this nature has not been observed. The purpose of this study was to investigate excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) following repeated, exhaustive bouts of anaerobic exercise. METHODS: Four recreationally trained male subjects (age: 24.5 + 2.7 yrs), performed nine bouts of anaerobic exercise using the Wingate 30-second cycle protocol. The bouts were separated into sets of three, with a two minute rest after the first and second bout and a six minute forty-five second rest after the third bout, resulting in total test duration of thirty minutes. Prior to the third bout of the third set, subjects were fitted with an appropriate gas collection mask, and calculation of EPOC began immediately following that bout. Subjects reported to the laboratory rested and following a 12-hour fast. Each test was preceded by a 30-minute baseline test to determine resting metabolic rate. Postexercise VO2 was continuously monitored until baseline was re-established. RESULTS: EPOC magnitude and duration from repeated, exhaustive anaerobic exercise bouts was 10.6 + 4.3 L O2 and 58.5 + 38.8 mins, respectively. Heart rate at the completion of recovery was significantly elevated above rest (66.3 + 8.1 bts*min-1 vs. 84.8 + 13.7 bts*min-1, p=.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that EPOC, and thus caloric expenditure, during recovery from repeated, exhaustive anaerobic bouts of exercise is a noteworthy contributor to total caloric burn following this type of exercise, and is substantially greater than previously published EPOC values reported from aerobic exercise protocols. Heart rate remained significantly elevated above resting levels even after postexercise oxygen consumption returned to baseline. Further investigation of postexercise biomarkers, such as catecholamines, is warranted.