Optimized versus corrected peak power during friction-braked cycle ergometry in males and females

The aim of this study was to compare optimization and correction procedures for the determination of peak power output during friction-loaded cycle ergometry. Ten male and 10 female sports students each performed five 10- s sprints from a stationary start on a Monark 864 basket- loaded ergometer. Resistive loads of 5.0, 6.5, 8.0, 9.5, and 11.0% body weight were administered in a counterbalanced order, with a recovery period of 10 min between sprints. Peak power was greater and occurred earlier, with less work having been done before the attainment of peak power, when the data were corrected to account for the inertial and frictional characteristics of the ergometer. Corrected peak power was independent of resistive load ( P > 0.05), whereas uncorrected peak power varied as a quadratic function of load ( P > 0.001). For males and females, optimized peak power ( 971 +/- 122 and 668 +/- 37 W) was lower ( P < 0.01) than either the highest ( 1074 +/- 111 and 754 +/- 56 W respectively) or the mean ( 1007 +/- 125 and 701 +/- 45 W respectively) of the five values for corrected peak power. Optimized and mean corrected peak power were highly correlated both in males ( r = 0.97, P < 0.001) and females ( r = 0.96, P < 0.001). The difference between optimized and mean corrected peak power was 37+ 30 W in males and 33 +/- 14 W in females, of which approximately 15 W was due to the correction for frictional losses. We conclude that corrected peak power is independent of resistive load in males and females

VO2 Attained During Treadmill Running: The Influence of a Specialist (400-m or 800-m) Event

Purpose: Previously it has been observed that, in well-trained 800-m athletes, VO(2)max is not attained during middle-distance running events on a treadmill, even when a race-type pacing strategy is adopted. Therefore, the authors investigated whether specialization in a particular running distance (400-m or 800-m) influences the VO(2) attained during running on a treadmill. Methods: Six 400-m and six 800-m running specialists participated in the study. A 400-m trial and a progressive test to determine VO(2)max were completed in a counterbalanced order. Oxygen uptakes attained during the 400-m trial were compared to examine the influence of specialist event. Results: A VO(2) plateau was observed in all participants for the progressive test, demonstrating the attainment of VO(2)max. The VO(2)max values were 56.2 +/- 4.7 and 69.3 +/- 4.5 mL . kg(-1) min(-1) for the 400-m- and 800-m-event specialists, respectively (P = .0003). Durations for the 400-m trial were 55.1 +/- 4.2 s and 55.8 +/- 2.3 s for the 400-m- and 800-m-event specialists, respectively. The VO(2) responses achieved were 93.1% +/- 2.0% and 85.7% +/- 3.0% VO(2)max for the 400-m- and 800-m-event specialists, respectively (P = .001). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that specialist running events do appear to influence the percentage of VO(2)max achieved in the 400-m trial, with the 800-m specialists attaining a lower percentage of VO(2)max than the 400-m specialists. The 400-m specialists appear to compensate for a lower VO(2)max by attaining a higher percentage VO(2)max during a 400-m trial

Influence of test duration on oxygen uptake attained during treadmill running

Previous investigations have revealed that in well-trained middle-distance runners, oxygen uptake (VO2) does not attain maximal values (VO2max) in exhaustive treadmill trials where the VO2 demand exceeds VO2max. To date, this shortfall in the VO2 attained has been demonstrated in trials as short as 2 min in duration. In this study, we investigated whether a reduction in exhaustive test duration influences the VO2 attained during running on a treadmill. Six middle-distance runners participated in the study, completing an exhaustive 400 m and 800 m trial. These trials, together with a progressive test to determine VO2max, were completed in a counterbalanced order. Oxygen uptakes attained during the 400 m and 800 m trials were compared to examine the influence of exhaustive test duration. A plateau in VO2 was observed in all participants for the progressive test, demonstrating the attainment of VO2max. The mean speed, duration, and resulting distance in the constant-speed exhaustive trials were 25.8 km h(-1) (s=1.2), 55.8 s (s=2.3), and 400.2 m (s=20.2) for the 400 m trial, and 24.3 km h(-1) (s=0.8), 108.4 s (s=21.2), and 730.1 m (s=129.1) for the 800 m trial, respectively. A paired-samples t-test revealed a significantly different (P=0.018)%VO2max was attained for the 400 m (85.7%, s=3.0) and 800 m (89.1%, s=5.0) trials. In conclusion, VO2 did not reach VO2max during the exhaustive constant-speed 400 m and 800 m trials, but the test duration does influence the%VO2max achieved. Specifically, the VO2 attained becomes progressively further below VO2max as trial duration is reduced, such that 89% and 86% VO2max is achieved in exhaustive 800 m and 400 m constant-speed trials, respectively

Effect of starting cadence on sprint-performance indices in friction-loaded cycle ergometry

The aims of the study were to investigate whether starting cadence had an effect on 10-s sprint-performance indices in friction-loaded cycle ergometry and to investigate the influence of method of power determination. In a counterbalanced order, 12 men and 12 women performed three 10-s sprints using a stationary (0 rev/min), moderate (60 rev/min), and high (120 rev/min) starting cadence Calculated performance indices were peak power, cadence at peak power, time to peak power, and work to peak power. When the uncorrected method of power determination was applied, there was a main effect for starting cadence in female participants for peak power (stationary 635 ± 183.7 W, moderate 615.4 ± 168.9 W and high 798.4 ± 120.1 W) and cadence at peak power (89.8 ± 2.3 rev/min, 87.9 ± 21.5 rev/min, and 113.1 ± 12.5 rev/min). For both the uncorrected and directly measured methods of power determination in men and women, there was a main effect for starting cadence for time to peak power and work to peak power. In women, for an uncorrected method of power determination, it can be concluded that starting cadence does affect peak power and cadence at peak power. This effect is, however, negated by a direct-measurement method of power determination. In men and women, for both uncorrected and directly measured methods o power determination, time to peak power and work to peak power were affected by starting cadence. Therefore, a higher-cadence start is unsuitable, particularly when sprint-performance indices are determined from an uncorrected method.</jats:p

Utilization of Science-Based Information on Climate Change in Decision Making and the Public Policy Process - Phase 1

This report was prepared by the ORIGINAL: Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy in The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University under award NA03OAR4310164 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Commerce.project final reportsurveyNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (NA03OAR4310164

Utilization of Science-Based Information on Climate Change in Decision Making and the Public Policy Process - Phase 2

This report was prepared by the ORIGINAL: Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy in The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University under award NA04OAR4600172 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Commerce.project reportsurveyNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (NA04OAR4600172