Abstract
We attempted to test whether the balance between muscular metabolic capacity and oxygen supply capacity in endurance-trained athletes (ET) differs from that in a control group of normal physically active subjects by using exercises with different muscle masses. We compared maximal exercise in nine ET subjects [Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) 64 ml kg−1 min−1 ± SD 4] and eight controls (VO2max 46 ± 4 ml kg−1 min−1) during one-legged knee extensions (1-KE), two-legged knee extensions (2-KE) and bicycling. Maximal values for power output (P), VO2max, concentration of blood lactate ([La−]), ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR), and arterial oxygen saturation of haemoglobin (SpO2) were registered. P was 43 (2), 89 (3) and 298 (7) W (mean ± SE); and VO2max: 1,387 (80), 2,234 (113) and 4,115 (150) ml min−1) for controls in 1-KE, 2-KE and bicycling, respectively. The ET subjects achieved 126, 121 and 126% of the P of controls (p < 0.05) and 127, 124, and 117% of their VO2max (p < 0.05). HR and [La−] were similar for both groups during all modes of exercise, while VE in ET was 147 and 114% of controls during 1-KE and bicycling, respectively. For mass-specific VO2max (VO2max divided by the calculated active muscle mass) during the different exercises, ET achieved 148, 141, and 150% of the controls’ values, respectively (p < 0.05). During bicycling, both groups achieved 37% of their mass-specific VO2 during 1-KE. Finally we conclude that ET subjects have the same utilization of the muscular metabolic capacity during whole body exercise as active control subjects.
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Rud, B., Hallén, J. Is the balance between skeletal muscular metabolic capacity and oxygen supply capacity the same in endurance trained and untrained subjects?. Eur J Appl Physiol 105, 679–685 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0947-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0947-8