Mechanical Efficiency of Treadmill Running Exercise: Effect of Anaerobic-Energy Contribution at Various Speeds
in International Journal of Sports Physiology and PerformanceClick name to view affiliation
Objectives:
Mechanical efficiency (ME) describes the ratio between mechanical (PMECH) and metabolic (PMET) power. The purpose of the study was to include an estimation of anaerobic energy expenditure (AnE) into the quantification of PMET using the accumulated oxygen deficit (AOD) and to examine its effect on the value of ME in treadmill running at submaximal, maximal, and supramaximal running speeds.
Methods:
Participants (N = 11) underwent a graded maximal exercise test to determine velocity at peak oxygen uptake (vVO2peak). On 4 separate occasions, subjects ran for 6 min at speeds corresponding to 50%, 70%, 90%, and 110% of vVO2peak. During each testing session, PMET was measured from pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2p) using opencircuit spirometry and was quantified in 2 ways: from VO2p and an estimate of AnE (from the AOD method) and from VO2p only. PMECH was determined from kinematic analyses.
Results:
ME at 50%, 70%, 90%, and 110% of vVO2peak was 59.9% ± 11.9%, 55.4% ± 12.2%, 51.5% ± 6.8%, and 52.9% ± 7.5%, respectively, when AnE was included in the calculation of PMET. The exclusion of AnE yielded significantly greater values of ME at all speeds: 62.9% ± 11.4%, 62.4% ± 12.6%, 55.1% ± 6.2%, and 64.2% ± 8.4%; P = .001 (for 50%, 70%, 90%, and 110% of vVO2peak, respectively).
Conclusions:
The data suggest that an estimate of AnE should be considered in the computation of PMET when determining ME of treadmill running, as its exclusion leads to overestimations of ME values.
Keir, Boudreau-Larivière, and Serresse are with the School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada. Zory is with the Groupement de Recherche Clinique et Technologique sur le Handicap, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, Versailles, France.
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