The influence of aerobic fitness on the recovery of peak power output

Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this study were to evaluate the recovery kinetics of peak power output (PPO) following a maximal sprint, and to evaluate the influence of aerobic fitness on that recovery process.

Methods

On separate occasions, 16 well-trained men (age: 21 ± 3 years; height: 1.84 ± 0.05 m; and body mass: 78.8 ± 7.8 kg) performed a 30 s maximal sprint on a cycle ergometer, followed by a predetermined stationary rest period (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 s) and a subsequent 5 s sprint to determine PPO recovery kinetics. On another occasion, ${\dot V}{{\rm O}_{2}}$ was monitored during recovery from a 30 s sprint to provide a comparison with the recovery of PPO. Finally, subjects completed a ${\dot V}{{\rm O}_{2{\rm max}}}$ test to evaluate the influence of aerobic fitness on the recovery of PPO.

Results

Despite following similar time courses (F = 0.36, p = 0.558), and being well described by double-exponential models, the kinetic parameters of PPO and ${\dot V}{{\rm O}_{2}}$ in recovery were significantly different (p < 0.05). There was no significant relationship (r = 0.15; p = 0.578) between ${\dot V}{\rm O}_{2{\rm max}}$ and the time to achieve 50 % recovery of PPO. Moreover, there was no difference (p = 0.61) between the recovery kinetics of participants classified according to their ${\dot V}{\rm O}_{2{\rm max}}$ (59.4 ± 1.3 vs 48.5 ± 2.2 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹).

Conclusion

Despite similar overall recovery kinetics, ${\dot V}{{\rm O}_{2}}$ and PPO show differences in key model parameters. Moreover, the recovery of PPO does not appear to be affected by aerobic fitness.