Peak cardiac power output in healthy, trained men

• Published in: Clinical physiology and functional imaging 2010-11, Vol.30 (6), p.480-484
• Main Authors: Schlader, Zachary J., Mündel, Toby, Barnes, Matthew J., Hodges, Lynette D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bicycling; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac Output; cardiac power output; cardiovascular health; Exercise Test; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Fitness; Time Factors; trained men; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1475-0961; 1475-097X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-097X.2010.00959.x

Summary Previous investigations into peak cardiac power output (CPO peak) have been limited to clinical populations and healthy, but non‐athletic adults, and normative data on trained individuals would allow a greater understanding of this parameter. Therefore, we recruited eight healthy, well‐trained male cyclists. Peak oxygen consumption ( peak) was assessed using an incremental ergometer test, and following a 40‐min recovery period, peak cardiac output (T peak) was measured during a constant load test that elicited peak (±5%) using the Defares CO2 rebreathing technique. CPO peak was calculated as described by Cooke et al. (1998). Mean (±SD) values during the constant load test were: peak, 4·94 ± 0·41 l min−1; T peak, 36·5 ± 3·7 l min−1; mean arterial pressure, 123 ± 8 mmHg and CPO peak, 9·9 ± 1·0 W. These results demonstrate CPO peak in a well‐trained population to be approximately twice those observed in healthy, but non‐athletic adults. The current data provide useful information regarding the upper limits and possible ‘trainability’ of cardiac pumping capacity for sedentary and clinically compromised individuals.