Energy System Contributions During Incremental Exercise Test
Rômulo Bertuzzi1,, Eduardo M.F. Nascimento1, Rodrigo P. Urso1, Mayara Damasceno1, Adriano E. Lima-Silva2
Author Information
1 School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Brazil
2 Academic Center of Vitoria, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil
Rômulo Bertuzzi ✉ Departamento de Esporte - Escola de Educação Física e Esporte da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Melo de Morais, 65 – Cidade Universitária - São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05371-140, Brazil Email: bertuzzi@usp.br
Publish Date
Received: 20-12-2012 Accepted: 30-04-2013 Published (online): 01-09-2013
Rômulo Bertuzzi, Eduardo M.F. Nascimento, Rodrigo P. Urso, Mayara Damasceno, Adriano E. Lima-Silva. (2013) Energy System Contributions During Incremental Exercise Test. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine(12), 454 - 460.
Rômulo Bertuzzi, Eduardo M.F. Nascimento, Rodrigo P. Urso, Mayara Damasceno, Adriano E. Lima-Silva. (2013) Energy System Contributions During Incremental Exercise Test. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine(12), 454 - 460.
The main purpose of this study was to determine the relative contributions of the aerobic and glycolytic systems during an incremental exercise test (IET). Ten male recreational long-distance runners performed an IET consisting of three-minute incremental stages on a treadmill. The fractions of the contributions of the aerobic and glycolytic systems were calculated for each stage based on the oxygen uptake and the oxygen energy equivalents derived by blood lactate accumulation, respectively. Total metabolic demand (WTOTAL) was considered as the sum of these two energy systems. The aerobic (WAER) and glycolytic (WGLYCOL) system contributions were expressed as a percentage of the WTOTAL. The results indicated that WAER (86-95%) was significantly higher than WGLYCOL (5-14%) throughout the IET (p < 0.05). In addition, there was no evidence of the sudden increase in WGLYCOL that has been previously reported to support to the “anaerobic threshold” concept. These data suggest that the aerobic metabolism is predominant throughout the IET and that energy system contributions undergo a slow transition from low to high intensity.
Key words:
Oxygen uptake, blood lactate, aerobic threshold, anaerobic threshold, onset of blood lactate accumulation, energy metabolism contribution
Key
Points
The aerobic metabolism contribution is the predominant throughout the maximal incremental test.
The speed corresponding to the aerobic threshold can be considered the point in which aerobic metabolism reaches its maximal contribution.
Glycolytic metabolism did not contribute largely to the energy expenditure at intensities above the anaerobic threshold.
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