Modeling the depletion and reconstitution of W′: Effects of prior exercise on cycling tolerance

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology 2021-03, Vol.285, p.103590-103590, Article 103590
• Main Authors: do Nascimento Salvador, Paulo Cesar, de Lucas, Ricardo Dantas, Schäfer, Lisa, Guglielmo, Luiz Guilherme Antonacci, Grassi, Bruno, Denadai, Benedito Sérgio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cycling tolerance; Exhaustion; Very-heavy intensity domain; VO2 dynamic; W’ balance; W′ reconstitution
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2020.103590

•Cycling exercise tolerance is partially associated with the restoration of W′ during exercise above critical power.•The W′ depletion is linked to physiological disturbances caused by prior exercise•A slower VCO2 kinetics and higher cardiac work are related to high-intensity exercise intolerance in healthy subjects. Thirteen healthy male subjects (age 28 ± 7 years) performed tests for critical power and W′ determination and two square-wave high-intensity exercises until exhaustion either with prior very-heavy intensity cycling (EXP) or without (CON). Prior exercise bout induced a depletion of 60 % of W′. After 10 min of recovery, W′ reconstitution was not fully achieved (∼ 92 %). Time to exhaustion and Δ blood lactate concentration were significantly lower in EXP compared to CON (595 ± 118 s vs. 683 ± 148 s; 3.5 ± 1.2 mmol.L−1 vs. 8.8 ± 2.3 mmol.L−1; p