Domains of Exercise

Question 1

What does critical power represent?

Answer 1

The highest power output that can be maintained over time, without drawing on W’ (i.e., rate of oxidative ATP production).

Question 2

At which points, studied in this module can critical power be found at?

Answer 2

Between lactate threshold and VO2max.
Relates to MLSS.

Question 3

Is it possible to increase our critical power? If so, how?

Answer 3

Yes.

Short-term continuous endurance training.
High-intensity interval training.

Question 4

In what environment will our critical power decrease?

Answer 4

Hypoxic (acidic)

Question 5

State the definition of W’ and a description of what that means.

Answer 5

Fixed energy store representing anaerobic capacity.

This store represents the initial ATP store, followed by PCr breakdown, anaerobic glycolysis, and the production of lactate.

Question 6

What two equations can be used to calculate W’?

Answer 6

W’ = Power above CP * duration
W’ = Power * time

Question 7

What increases our W’ store?

Answer 7

Short-term interval sprint training
Heavy intensity exercise
(Little research) Intake of dietary creatine

Question 8

What decreases our W’ store?

Answer 8

Previous high intensity exercise, greater than CP, which used stores of our W’.
Glycogen depletion.

Question 9

Describe what happens to blood lactate and VO2 when we exercise at CP + 5%.

Answer 9

Blood lactate increases systematically until athlete is no longer able to continue exercising. This is likely due to accumulation of H+.

VO2 graph demonstrates a pronounced slow component with a increase until VO2max plateau has been reached.

Question 10

What are the three domains of exercise?

Answer 10

Low, Moderate, and Severe

Question 11

At which domain of exercise is steady state never attainable?

Answer 11

Severe

Question 12

Prior to phase I of breathing, why can’t we see a straight line at the beginning of the oxygen uptake kinetics graph?

Answer 12

Slight fluctuations in breath cause the graph line to reach small peaks and troughs.

Question 13

Describe the slow component of the oxygen uptake kinetics graph.

Answer 13

There is a slow rise in VO2 at high power outputs due to the recruitment of type II muscle fibres.
Type II muscle fibres fatigue quicker, using O2 less efficiently, producing more H+ than type I fibres.
As VO2 rises, as does H+ concentration.
The athlete will either reach their VO2max or will have to cease exercise due to exhaustion of anaerobic stores (W’).