Abstract

4he purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of gender on anaerobic and aerobic contributions to high-intensity exercise. A group of 38 subjects (22 women, 16 men) performed modified Wingate tests against resistances of 0.086 kg/kg body mass (0.844 N/kg) for women and 0.095 kg/kg body mass (0.932 N/kg) for men. The aerobic contribution to total work performed was determined from breath-by-breath analyses of expired gases during each test. Total work in 30 s was 30 lower (Students t test; P<0.01) in women than men (211 +/- 5 J/kg versus 299 +/- 14 J/kg). Aerobic contribution was only 7 lower (P=0.12) in women than men (53 +/- 1 J/kg versus 57 +/- 2 J/kg). The anaerobic component of the work performed, determined by subtraction of the aerobic component from total work in 30 s, was 35 lower in women than men (158 +/- 5 J/kg versus 242 +/- 15 J/kg). It is concluded that, because women provide a relatively higher portion of the energy for a 30-s test aerobically than men (25 versus 20), total work during a Wingate test actually underestimates the gender difference in anaerobic capacity between women and men. Verf.-Referat