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Relative Proximity of Critical Power and Metabolic/Ventilatory Thresholds: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 24 June 2021

A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 24 June 2021

Abstract

Background

Critical power (CP) has been redefined as the new ‘gold standard’ that represents the boundary between the heavy- and severe-exercise intensity domains and hence the maximal metabolic steady state (MMSS). However, several other “thresholds”, for instance, the maximal lactate steady state [MLSS], ventilatory thresholds [VT1, VT2] and respiratory compensation point [RCP]) have been considered synonymous with CP.

Objective

This study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature and perform a meta-analysis to determine the degree of correspondence/difference between CP and MLSS, VT1, VT2 and RCP.

Methods

A literature search on 2 databases (Scopus and Web of Science) was conducted on October 2, 2019. After analyzing 356 resultant articles, studies were included if they met the following inclusion criteria: (a) studies were randomized controlled trials, (b) studies included interrelations between CP and VT1, VT2, MLSS, RCP. Articles were excluded if they constituted duplicate articles or did not meet the inclusion criteria. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. This resulted in 104 participants. A random effects weighted meta-analysis with correlation coefficients was used to pool the results.

Results

The pooled correlation coefficient of CP and all thresholds analyzed was r = 0.73 (p > 0.00001). The subgroup analysis for each threshold with CP demonstrated significant correlation coefficients of r = 0.80 (95% CI [0.40; 1.21], Z = 3.90, p = 0.0001) for CP & RCP; r = 0.77 (CI 95% = [0.36; 1.18], Z = 3.71, p = 0.0002) for CP & MLSS; r = 0.76 (CI 95% = [0.31; 1.21], Z = 3.32, p = 0.0009) for CP & VT1. However, CP & VT2, r = 0.39 (CI 95% = [− 0.37; 1.15], Z = 1.01, p = 0.31) were not significantly correlated. Despite the significant correlations between CP and VT1, MLSS and RCP these variables and VT2 under- (VT1, 30%; MLSS, 11%) or over-estimated (RCP, 6%; VT2, 21%) CP.

Conclusion

Regardless of the presence of significant correlations among CP and ventilatory or metabolic thresholds CP differs significantly from each. Thus, logically, if CP represents the best estimate of the heavy-severe exercise intensity transition none of the thresholds considered (i.e., VT1, VT2, MLSS, RCP), at least as determined in the studies analyzed herein, should be considered synonymous with such.

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Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sport Training Lab, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla la Mancha, Avenida Carlos III s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain

    Miguel Ángel Galán-Rioja, Fernando González-Mohíno & José Mª González-Ravé

  2. Departments of Kinesiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

    David C. Poole

  3. Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, Spain

    Fernando González-Mohíno

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  1. Miguel Ángel Galán-Rioja
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All authors met the authorship criteria for this journal and each author made a significant contribution to the final version of this paper.

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Correspondence to José Mª González-Ravé.

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Miguel Ángel Galán-Rioja, Fernando González-Mohíno, David C. Poole and José María González-Ravé declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this review.

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Galán-Rioja, M.Á., González-Mohíno, F., Poole, D.C. et al. Relative Proximity of Critical Power and Metabolic/Ventilatory Thresholds: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med 50, 1771–1783 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01314-8

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