DIFFERENCES IN PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES BETWEEN SHORT- VS. LONG-GRADED LABORATORY TESTS IN ROAD CYCLISTS

摘要

Gonzalez-Haro, C. Differences in physiological responses between short-vs. long-graded laboratory tests in road cyclists. J Strength Cond Res 29(4): 1040-1048, 2015-This study aimed to determine the effect of a short-graded with respect to a long-graded protocol laboratory test on the physiological responses of road cyclists. Twenty well-trained road cyclists performed a shortgraded and long-graded laboratory tests within 1 week of each other in a randomized and crossover study design. Blood lactate concentration ([La-](b)), heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption ((V) over dotO(2)), and carbon dioxide production ((V) over dotO(2)) were measured. Fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates (FAT(OxR) and CHOOxR) were estimated at the end of each stage during the short-graded and the long-graded (10th minute: T-2.10) and in the middle of long-graded (fifth minute: T-2.5) protocol. Lactate threshold (LT) and individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) were calculated. For maximal intensities, duration and maxFAT(OxR) were significantly higher in long-graded with respect to short-graded protocols. Peak power output (POPeak), HRPeak, [La-](bmax), (V) over dotO(2)peak, and maxCHO(OxR) were significantly higher in short-graded with respect to long-graded protocols. At submaximal intensities, short-graded protocol provoked higher demands on glycolytic metabolism than long-graded protocol; no differences were illustrated for HR or (V) over dotO(2) between protocols. Crossover concept shifted to higher intensities in longgraded with respect to short-graded protocols due to the higher lipolytic response during the long-graded protocol. Both LT and IAT were reached at the same %(V) over dotO(2)peak, although significantly higher PO in short-graded with respect to long-graded protocols was reached. The long-graded proved to be more specific than the short-graded protocol to assess the physiological responses of road cyclists based on relative PO (W.kg(-1)).