Training Prescription For Anaerobic Adaptation

Question 1

You investigate the effect of sprint training intervention on phosphofructokinase activity. Explain the effects of training on PFK enzyme activity, and how changes to PFK enzyme activity will affect metabolism and sprint performance.

Answer 1

PFK activity increases.

Allows greater glycolysis flux and therefore ATP re-synthesis from muscle glycogen.

Higher power outputs are sustained for a longer period of time.

Question 2

Between 10 and 20 secs of maximal sprint, why does the anaerobic contribution to ATP production fall by 50% yet power output only falls by 30%.

Answer 2

The decline in anaerobic ATP re-synthesis is due to reduced reliance on Pcr and anaerobic glycolysis

To compensate, VO2 and oxidative phosphorylation increases

Increased ATP re-synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation offers a partial compensation for the the decline in anaerobic ATP re-synthesis

Question 3

With reference to PCr, why should sprinters avoid training their 100m sprint using short (<5 mins) recovery periods?

Answer 3

The 10s will drop PCr content by >50-75%

To reach 100% sprint capacity, this will take longer than 5 mins to fully resynthesise

Complete PCr recovery could take 13 mins or more