Determining the Maximal Physiological Steady State in Cycling with Precision: Critical Power Estimations or Self-selected Exercise Intensity?
Abstract
Giving the inherent limitations of critical power (CP) testing and the demanding maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) protocol, this thesis aimed: i) to compare the power outputs (POs) derived from two methods of estimating CP (i.e., the power-time relationship (CPHYP) and the 3-minute all-out test (CP3MIN)) and the determined MLSS; and ii) to test cyclists’ ability to predict their highest sustainable PO (CPSELF). Thirteen healthy young participants (26±3 yr; 69.0±9.2 kg; 174±10 cm; 60.4±5.9 mL·kg-1·min-1) were tested. PO at MLSS was lower than CPHYP and CP3MIN (p<0.05). PO at CPSELF was similar (p>0.05) to MLSS. The mean difference between the measures of MLSS and CPSELF was zero, and both methods presented similar (p>0.05) metabolic responses. The disagreement between CPHYP and CP3MIN with the PO at MLSS questions the ability of CP to estimate the maximal steady state, while CPSELF may offer an alternative approach to predict it with more precision.
Description
Keywords
Physiology
Citation
Mattioni Maturana, F. (2016). Determining the Maximal Physiological Steady State in Cycling with Precision: Critical Power Estimations or Self-selected Exercise Intensity? (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25609