A simple method to determine the severe-extreme intensity exercise domain boundary using the VO2 kinetic response
The boundary separating the severe intensity exercise domain, wherein the maximal O2 uptake (V̇O2max) can be attained, from the extreme intensity exercise domain, wherein V̇O2max cannot be attained, is not widely adopted in applied sports sciences due to the labour-intensive nature of its measurement. The aim of this study was to propose an alternative and practical approach to estimate the severe-extreme domain boundary using V̇O2 kinetics. Sixteen males completed an incremental exercise test and a series of constant power output exercise tests on a cycle ergometer. The relationship between time to achieve V̇O2max and time to task failure during severe-intensity exercise was calculated to estimate the highest power output at which V̇O2max was momentarily attained before task failure (PUPPERBOUND). Separately, the highest power output that provided a time to task failure that was equal to or greater than four times the time constant (τ) describing the V̇O2 kinetics during severe-intensity exercise (P4-τ) was calculated. The PUPPERBOUND and P4-τ occurred at similar power outputs (379 vs. 380 W; p = 0.62) and were closely related (r:0.99; bias:1 W; SEE:7 W; CV%:1.92%; LoA:–14 W to 16 W). Compared to PUPPERBOUND, the P4-τ method provides a simpler and more time efficient approach to identify the severe-extreme domain boundary.
Funding
Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye [TUBITAK-1002 program; project code: 222S455]
History
School
- Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Published in
Journal of Sports SciencesPublisher
Informa UK LimitedVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Rights holder
© Informa UK LimitedPublisher statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Sports Sciences on 29 May 2025, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2510080.Publication date
2025-05-29Copyright date
2025ISSN
0264-0414eISSN
1466-447XPublisher version
Language
- en