Comparison of Physiological Responses and Muscle Activity During Incremental and Decremental Cycling Exercise

in International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Fernando G. Beltrami, Christian Froyd, Alexis R. Mauger, Alan J. Metcalfe, and Timothy D. Noakes
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0020
Keywords:
maximal oxygen uptake; V˙O2max plateau; exercise testing
First Published Online:
24 Sep 2021
In Print:
Volume 17: Issue 1
Page Range:
98–105
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Objective: To investigate whether a cycling test based on decremental loads (DEC) could elicit higher maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) values compared with an incremental test (INC). Design: Nineteen well-trained individuals performed an INC and a DEC test on a single day, in randomized order. Methods: During INC, the load was increased by 20 W·min−1 until task failure. During DEC, the load started at 20 W higher than the peak load achieved during INC (familiarization trial) and was progressively decreased. Gas exchange and electromyography (EMG) activity (n = 11) from 4 lower-limb muscles were monitored throughout the tests. Physiological and EMG data measured at V˙O2max were compared between the 2 protocols using paired t tests. Results: V˙O2max during the DEC was 3.0% (5.9%) higher than during INC (range 94%–116%; P = .01), in spite of a lower power output (−21 [20] W, P < .001) at V˙O2max. Pulmonary ventilation (P = .036) and breathing rate (P = .023) were also higher during DEC. EMG activity measured at V˙O2max was not different between tests, despite the lower output during DEC. Conclusions: A DEC exercise test produces higher V˙O2max in cycling compared with an INC test, which was accompanied by higher pulmonary ventilation and similar EMG activity. The additional O2 uptake during DEC might be related to extra work performed either by the respiratory muscles and/or the less oxidatively efficient leg muscles.

Beltrami, Froyd, and Noakes are with the Dept of Human Biology, Exercise Sciences and Sports Medicine Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Beltrami is also with the Exercise Physiology Lab, Inst of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Froyd is also with the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, Norway. Mauger is with the Endurance Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Kent, Kent, United Kingdom. Metcalfe is with the Dept for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Inst for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany. Noakes is also with the Centre for Communication Studies, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa.

Beltrami (fernando.beltrami@hest.ethz.ch) is corresponding author.

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