Is Anaerobic Power Related To Vo2 Max Attainment?

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine if anaerobic power is related to VO2max attainment in recreationally-active men and women. METHODS: Nineteen subjects (10 men and 9 women, mean age, height, mass, and VO2max = 23.0 ± 4.1 yr, 174.1 ± 7.3 cm, 68.1 ± 10.7 kg, and 42.2 ± 6.0 mL/kg/min, respectively) initially completed the Wingate Test. At least 24 h later, subjects completed incremental cycle ergometry followed by 10 min of active recovery, then performed a verification protocol at a supramaximal workload one stage above the last completed stage during the incremental test. During exercise, gas exchange data were obtained every 15 s. VO2max was defined as a change in VO2 (DVO2) < 2.1 mL/kg/min. Day-to-day error in VO2max ranged from 3.0 - 3.2 % for the supramaximal and incremental protocol, respectively. A paired t-test was used to examine differences in VO2max and gas exchange data between tests. Linear regression was used to describe the relationship between DVO2 at VO2max and peak power, mean power, and fatigue index. RESULTS: Peak power, mean power, and fatigue index were equal to 9.4 ± 1.4 W/kg, 7.1 ± 1.0 W/kg, and 51.4 ± 5.6 %, respectively. Peak power and mean power significantly (p<0.05) predicted DVO2, DVO2 = 0.04(MP) - 0.03(PP) + 0.79, R=0.56, p = 0.05. There was no correlation between fatigue index and DVO2, r (19) = -0.29, p>0.05. There was no difference (p>0.05) in mean VO2max between the incremental (42.2 ± 6.0 mL/kg/min) and supramaximal trial (42.2 ± 5.4 mL/kg/min). VCO2 and RER were higher (p<0.05) in response to the incremental (3.42 ± 0.66 L/min and 1.20 ± 0.06) compared to the supramaximal protocol (3.13 ± 0.69 L/min and 1.09 ± 0.07), although maximal HR and VE were similar (p>0.05) between protocols. CONCLUSION: Linear regression revealed that mean and peak power are significant predictors of DVO2, yet they explain only 31 % of the variability in DVO2. Despite no difference in mean VO2max between protocols, there were three subjects who had a higher VO2max in the supramaximal trial, and five subjects who had a lower VO2max in the supramaximal trial versus the incremental bout. Additional investigation is needed to further elucidate the VO2max phenomenon, specifically why some subjects do not reveal a 'true‘ VO2max after completion of a verification protocol.