VO₂ Responses to Running Speeds Above Intermittent Critical Speed

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine whether intermittent critical speed (ICS) is the threshold velocity above which intermittent exercise leads to the attainment of VO₂max. After an incremental test, 7 active male subjects (49.7±3.74 mL.min^− 1.kg^− 1) performed 3 intermittent exercises until exhaustion at 100%, 110%, 120% of the velocity associated with VO₂max to determine ICS. On 4 occasions, the subjects performed intermittent exercise tests until exhaustion at the velocity corresponding to 105% (IE₁₀₅) and 110% (IE₁₁₀) of ICS, and at a speed that was initially set at 125%ICS but which then decreased to 105%ICS (IE_125–105) in one instance and to 110%ICS (IE_125–110) in another. The intermittent exercises consisted of repeated 30-s runs alternated with 15-s passive rest intervals. At IE_125–105, peak VO₂ was not different from VO₂max but decreased significantly after the change of speed to 105%ICS. During IE₁₁₀, peak VO₂ value reached VO₂max and also during the higher speed at IE_125–110, but did not change when the speed was lowered. These results demonstrated that during intermittent exercise just above ICS (105%) VO₂max was not elicited, suggesting that ICS might not be the threshold speed above which VO₂max can be reached.

Key words

intermittent exercise - critical speed - VO₂max - running

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