Abstract des Autors

The aim of the study was to examine whether a measure of oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics could differentiate between 12 elite male endurance (3000-10000 m) runners and 12 elite male sprint (100-400 m) runners using a pseudo random binary sequence (PRBS) exercise protocol. All exercise tests were performed on an electrically braked cycle ergometer at a constant pedal frequency of 1 Hz. The PRBS exercise intensities alternated between 25 W and 85 W for three consecutive PRBS cycles of 300 s. VO2 was measured breath-by-breath and results were analysed by Fourier techniques in the frequency domain. Blood lactate concentrations taken pre and post testing were below 2 mM. Significantly greater amplitude components were observed in the endurance runners than sprinters at frequencies 6.7 mHz (6.71+/-1.09 and 5.47+/-0.95 ml/min/W, respectively) P<0.05 and 10 mHz (4.97+/-0.98 and 3.56+/-0.69 ml/min/W, respectively) P<0,01. Phase shift components were significantly shorter in the endurance runners compared to the sprinters at frequency 3.3 mHz (-35.45+/-4.31 and -41.26+/-5.82 degrees, respectively) P<0.05. The results of this study show that VO2 kinetics are differentially faster in elite endurance runners than in elite sprinters. This supports the development of the PRBS technique as a test of sports performance. Verf.-Referat