Critical power as a measure of physical work capacity and anaerobic threshold

Abstract

Monod and Scherrer (1965) showed that there was a linear relation between the maximal work and the maximal time over which the work was performed until the onset of local muscular exhaustion. This linear relation could be expressed by the equation: W _lim =a+bT _lim, where maximal work (W_lim) was thought to result from the use of an energy reserve (a) and an energy reconstitution whose maximal rate was (b) We have extended this concept to total body work (bicycle ergometer). Eight male and eight female college students underwent exercise tests at 400, 350, 300,275 and 300,250,200,175 W respectively, to the onset of fatigue. The regression analysis revealed that the linearity of individual plots was found to be 0-982<R ²<0 998 (p<0 01). Experimental results indicated that the maximal energy reconstitution rate (b) was correlated with the onset of anaerobic threshold (AT) as determined by the gas exchange method (r = 0 928, p <0 01). Furthermore, the sum of (a) and (b) (energy reserve and maximal rate of energy reconstitution) was found to be highly correlated with [Vdot]O₂ max (r = 0 956, p < 0001) and the regression equation: [Vdot]O₂max (1/min) = 0 00795 x [a + b] + 0 114 could be used to predict [Vdot]O₂max with a SEE of 0-241/min.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

TOSHIO MORITANI

Present address: Bio-dynamics Laboratory, Department of Physical Education, University of Texas at Arlington, U.S.A.