Diagnostics of anaerobic power and capacity

Abstract

Testing procedures for the assessment of anaerobic energy metabolism during muscular work have not yet gained the relevance of tests assessing maximal aerobic power. The diagnosis of aerobic power allows one, through the choice of an adequate testing protocol, to design a test that mainly measures the power of aerobic metabolism by means of indicators like VO 2max and lactate. With regard to tests for the assessment of anaerobic power and capacity, however, alactic, lactic, and oxidative components of energy expenditure as a whole cannot be differentiated by means of simple parameters (e.g., lactate and time until exhaustion). By means of computer simulations of energy metabolism for supramaximal loads with durations until exhaustion of about 10 s and 60 s as well as the isolated variation of the concentration of muscle phosphocreatine, the maximal rate of lactate production, and the maximal aerobic power (VO 2max ), the influence of the single components on energy metabolism as a whole is presented in a semi-quantitative way. Subsequent testing procedures for the measurement of alactic and lactic power as well as alactic and lactic capacity are presented. Finally critical-power method and method for the determination of maximal accumulated O 2 deficit are described in greater detail, because both methods are widely discussed in contemporary international literature.

Training Intensity Distribution and Changes in Performance and Physiology of a 2nd Place Finisher Team of the Race across America Over a 6 Month Preparation Period

“…Afterward, peak power (sprint PPO) and mean power (sprint MPO) were determined. Capillary samples from the earlobe were collected before and in minute intervals (1′–10′) after the test to determine the “maximal rate of lactate accumulation (dLa/dt max )” according to Heck et al (2003) and Hauser et al (2014a): $\begin{array}{c}leftdLa/d{t}_{max}false(mmol·L^{-1}·s^{-1}false)=false({\left[La\right]}_{max}-{\left[La\right]}_{rest}false){false(t_{exerc}-t_{alac}false)}^{-1}\end{array}$ where [ La ] max ( mmol · L −1 ) = maximal lactate concentration after the exercise; [ La ] rest ( mmol · L −1 ) = lactate concentration before exercise; t exerc (seconds) = duration of exercise; t alac (seconds) = period at the beginning of exercise for which (fictitiously) no lactate formation is assumed. The t alac for each subject was set as the time to sprint PPO (seconds).…”

Evaluation of a sport-specific field test to determine maximal lactate accumulation rate and sprint performance parameters in running

“…2 It was assumed that the maximal rates (or power) of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism define LT and thus %VO 2 max by a system of differential equations. [3][4][5][6][7] These differential equations are based on two essential parameters:VO 2 max, as a measure of aerobic power, and the maximal rate of lactate accumulation (VLa max ), as a measure of anaerobic (lactic) power.VLa max is determined by using an all-out (sprint) exercise of 10-15 s and post-exercise lactate kinetics. 5,6V La max is calculated as the difference (La ) between maximal post-exercise lactate concentration (La max ) and resting lactate concentration (La Pre ) that was divided by the difference between test time (t test ) and the period at the beginning of exercise for which no lactate formation is assumed (t alac ) Eq.…”

Comparison of calculated and experimental power in maximal lactate-steady state during cycling

“…The determination of ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalO}}_{2max}$ is a valid test procedure and well established in performance and clinical diagnostics [23]. However, Mader and Heck [3], Bleicher et al [12], Heck and Schulz [14] and Mader [11] showed that on a theoretical basis, ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalLa}}_{\text{max}}$ must have a significant influence on PMLSS. In the present investigation ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalLa}}_{\text{max}}$ shows no correlation with PMLSS E , which was probably caused by the small range of ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalLa}}_{\text{max}}$ values measured in this investigation.…”

“…Furthermore, the missing correlation between ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalLa}}_{\text{max}}$ and PMLSS E as well as the overestimation of PMLSS C may have been caused by the methodological procedure in determining the maximal anaerobic performance. For example, in the present study ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalLa}}_{\text{max}}$ was measured by a sprint-test lasting 15 s. It is possible that testing ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalLa}}_{\text{max}}$ by using a test duration lower than 15 s would lead to higher maximal glycolytic rates and therefore on the basis of the same ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalO}}_{2max}$ to a lower PMLSS [3,12,14]. Hauser [24] showed, that ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalLa}}_{\text{max}}$ increases by 8% when measured using a 13 s sprint-test compared to a 15 s sprint-test.…”

“…Blood samples were then immediately drawn and at every 60 s until the 9 th min after the end of the test, to determine the maximum-post-exercise-lactate. ${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{normalLa}}_{\text{max}}$ was calculated according to Equation 1 [14]:…”