Recovery of short-term power after dynamic exercise

The intensity of prior cycle ergometer exercise alters the pattern in recovery of maximal short-term power output (STPO). STPO was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer after 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 min of recovery. Immediately after exercise, STPO fell to 85, 75, 55, and 47% of preexercise values for prior exercise equivalent to 60, 80, 100, and 120% of maximal O2 uptake, respectively. STPO had fully recovered by 1 min of postexercise after submaximal work rates (60 and 80%). Recovery was delayed until after 4 min of postexercise after maximal exercise (100%). STPO remained at approximately 90% of preexercise values 8 min postexercise after supramaximal exercise (120%). STPO immediately after exercise and during recovery was inversely proportional to prior exercise intensity. The recovery curve for STPO was similar to that previously reported for creatine phosphate resynthesis after dynamic and isometric exercise. The absolute STPO regained in the initial phase was not inversely proportional to either exercise intensity or 4-min postexercise blood lactate levels, which suggests that factors other than changes in pH alone may mediate initial power recovery.