Use of Efficiency as a Measure of Endurance Training Intensity

Abstract

Three increasingly intense levels of endurance training were evaluated in terms of their capacity to change efficiency. The intensity of the training was controlled by the heart rate achieved during each training bout. The submaximal character of the testing bouts was established by means of blood lactate monitoring. In addition to the investigation of efficiency changes, heart rate, respiratory rate, and respiratory volume were involved in analysis. Parametric statistical procedures characterized efficiency as most useful in predicting changes resulting from training. Correlation matrices revealed that heart rate could also be used with a good degree of confidence to predict the extent of alterations brought about by training of this sort. The rate of increase in chronic change due to training was not related directly to the increments of training intensity since no changes occurred at or below a 120 heart rate.