PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G J Heigenhauser

Publications and source records attributed to G J Heigenhauser.

117 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Power output and fatigue of human muscle in maximal cycling exercise.

We studied maximal torque-velocity relationships and fatigue during short-term maximal exercise on a constant velocity cycle ergometer in 13 healthy male subjects. Maximum torque showed an inverse linear relationship to crank velocity between 60 and 160 rpm, and a direct relationship to thigh muscle volume measured by computerized tomography. Peak torque per liter thigh muscle volume (PT, N X ml-1) was related to crank velocity (CV, rpm) in the following equation: PT = 61.7 - 0.234 CV (r = 0.99). Peak power output was a parabolic function of crank velocity in individual subjects, but maximal power output was achieved at varying crank velocities in different subjects. Fiber type distribution was measured in the two subjects showing the greatest differences and demonstrated that a high proportion of type II fibers may be one factor associated with a high crank velocity for maximal power output. The decline in average power during 30 s of maximal effort was least at 60 rpm (23.7 +/- 4.6% of initial maximal power) and greatest at 140 rpm (58.7 +/- 6.5%). At 60 rpm the decline in power over 30 s was inversely related to maximal oxygen uptake (ml X min-1 X kg-1) (r = 0.69). Total work performed and plasma lactate concentration 3 min after completion of 30-s maximum effort were similar for each crank velocity.

Adult↗

Effects of pH on maximal power output and fatigue during short-term dynamic exercise.

Six healthy subjects performed four exercise studies in random order on separate days: a control study, metabolic acidosis induced by ammonium chloride, metabolic alkalosis induced by sodium bicarbonate, and respiratory acidosis induced by 5% CO2 inhalation. The subjects exerted maximal force on the pedals of a constant-velocity cycle ergometer at 100 rpm for 30 s; torque was measured and power calculated. Arterialized venous blood was sampled, and plasma lactate concentrations was measured immediately after and at 2-min intervals for 10 min following exercise. Although maximal peak power and total work, for the 30-s test, were lower in the two acidosis conditions, this effect was not statistically significant. Plasma lactate 30-s postexercise was lower in metabolic acidosis (2.8 +/- 1.6 mmol X 1(-1) (mean +/- SD) and respiratory acidosis (1.5 +/- 0.8 mmol X 1(-1) than in placebo conditions (5.9 +/- 3.3 mmol X 1(-1) and metabolic alkalosis 7.8 +/- 4.2 mmol X 1(-1). These differences were maintained but lessened during 10 min of recovery. In contrast to previous studies, which showed a marked reduction in endurance time during sustained heavy exercise, reductions in blood pH are associated with only small reductions in the total work performed in 30 s of maximal exercise. A delayed and smaller accumulation of lactate in plasma was observed following exercise during acidosis.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Impaired cardiac "acceleration" at the onset of exercise in patients with coronary disease.

The responses to two levels of exercise (400 and 800 kpm/min) were studied in nine untrained healthy subjects and seven patients with coronary artery disease. Measurements were made over 20-s time intervals to obtain the half times (t1/2) of the asymptotic rise in cardiac frequency (fc), O2 intake (VO2), CO2 output (VCO2), and ventilation (VE). Complete data were obtained in both groups at 400 kpm/min, but only in healthy subjects at 800 kpm/min, as patients were unable to exercise for longer than 2 min at this power. At the onset of 400 kpm/min, t1/2 for VO2 was similar, but t1/2 for fc, VCO2, and VE were all longer in the patients. At 800 kpm/min there was a delay in VO2 in the patients before stopping exercise. In patients and healthy subjects t1/2 for VCO2 and VE, but not VO2, were related to t1/2 for fc. The results emphasized the importance of tissue CO2 storage in attenuating the delivery of CO2 to the lungs and thus delayed the ventilatory response to a step increase in power output.

Adult↗

Effect of respiratory acidosis on metabolism in exercise.

Five healthy males took part in two separate studies. In one study subjects breathed air (control, C) and in the other 5% CO2 in 21% O2 (respiratory acidosis, RA). Measurements were made at rest, during exercise at 30 and 60% maximal O2 uptake (VO2 max), (20 min each) and in recovery. RA was associated with higher arterial CO2 partial pressure (PCO2) and bicarbonate and lower pH than C. The increase with exercise in plasma lactate (mmol . l-1) was less in RA than C from 1.0 +/- 0.15 (SE) (C = 1.1 +/- 0.17) at rest to 5.3 +/- 1.25 (C = 6.8 +/- 0.98) at 60% VO2 max (P less than 0.10). Plasma pyruvate, alanine, and glycerol concentrations increased with exercise; free fatty acids did not change. There were no significant differences between RA and C in any of these metabolites. Norepinephrine concentrations were similar at rest but increased to a greater extent during exercise in RA than C (P less than 0.02). Epinephrine levels were also higher in RA than C at 60% VO2 max (NS); the two subjects in whom lactate was not lower with RA showed the greatest increase in epinephrine. Exercise in RA was associated with higher heart rates (P less than 0.05), blood pressures (NS), and ventilation (P less than 0.01). In hypercapnia the metabolic effects of acidosis are modified by increased levels of circulating catecholamines.

Acidosis, Respiratory↗

Fat metabolism in heavy exercise.

1. To investigate differences between the metabolic effects of light and heavy exercise, five healthy males (mean maximal oxygen intake 3.92 litres/min) exercised for 40 min at 36% maximum power (light work) and 70% maximum power (heavy work) on separate days, after an overnight fast. 2. A steady state was achieved in both studies between 20 and 40 min in: oxygen intake (1.42 and 2.64 litres/min respectively); respiratory exchange ratio (0.89 and 1.01); plasma lactate concentration (1.78 and 9.94 mmol/l). 3. Plasma palmitate turnover rate (14C) was unchanged from resting values in light work but was decreased by 40% (from 104 +/- 16 to 63 +/- 8 micronml/min) in heavy work. Heavy work was associated with falls in the plasma concentrations of all free fatty acids measured: palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1), stearic acid (C18:0), linoleic acid (C18:2) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1). 4. In contrast to th fall in palmitate turnover the increase in plasma glycerol was greater in heavy exercise (0.054-0.229 mmol/l) than in light exercise (0.053-0.094 mmol/l), suggesting that lipolysis was occurring which did not lead to influx of free fatty acids into plasma. 5. In light exercise fat metabolism may be controlled to favour adipose tissue lipolysis and extraction of free fatty acids by muscle from the circulation, whereas in heavy exercise adipose tissue lipolysis is inhibited and hydrolysis of muscle triglycerides may play a more important part. 6. The finding of a high respiratory exchange ratio may not exclude the use of fat as a major fuel source in exercise associated with lactate production.

Adult↗

Estimation of cardiac output by the CO2 rebreathing method during tethered swimming.

The reproducibility of cardiac output (Q) estimated by the CO2 rebreathing method during tethered swimming was studied in five highly trained college swimmers. The reproducibility of the CO2 rebreathing method for estimations of Q during tethered swimming was similar to the reproducibility reported for the CO2 rebreathing method, direct Fick method, or dye-dilution method during either cycling or treadmill walking. All duplicate estimates of Q by the CO2 rebreathing method were within 15% of one another. A comparison was made between the Q's estimated by the CO2 rebreathing method during tethered swimming and previously published data on Q determined by the dye-dilution method during free swimming in a flune. At any given oxygen uptake, Q obtained by the CO2 rebreathing method during tethered swimming was not significantly different from the Q obtained by the dye-dilution method during flume swimming. Estimates of Q by the CO2 rebreathing method made during high intensities of tethered swimming were reproducible and appear to be valid.

Adult↗