Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Human Performance Across the Extreme- and Severe-Intensity Domains: Insights from Decremental and Priming Exercise
Gabriele Marinari1,2, Juan M Murias3, Danilo Iannetta4
1Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Purpose:
To investigate whether W' in the extreme-intensity domain is smaller, yet linked to the W' predicted by the severe-intensity time series.
Methods:
Twelve recreationally active participants (four females) completed 1) three extreme-intensity and three severe-intensity constant-power output (PO) trials to establish the PO duration series and to obtain W' within their respective domains (W'EXT and W'SVR, respectively); 2) two decremental protocols from extreme-to-severe (EXT1→SVR3) and from severe-to-severe POs (SVR2→SVR3); 3) one extreme- and one severe-intensity constant-PO trial preceded by priming exercise (EXT1P and SVR2P, respectively); and 4) control extreme- and severe-intensity constant-PO trials. Peak values for oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak), blood lactate concentration ([La-]b-peak), and minute ventilation (V̇Epeak) were also analyzed.
Results:
W'EXT was significantly smaller than W'SVR (P < 0.001). There was no difference in W' between the composite EXT1→SVR3 and SVR2→SVR3 and SVR3 alone (all P > 0.05). Priming-induced increase in W'EXT and W'SVR was not different (P = 0.401). V̇O2peak, V̇Epeak, and [La-]b-peak were all greater in EXT1P compared with EXT1 (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
We showed that W'EXT is smaller than W'SVR during cycling. Following task failure during EXT1, more work could be performed at SVR3 until complete depletion of W'SVR. Additionally, heavy-intensity priming exercise increased W'EXT and W'SVR by a similar magnitude. Collectively, these findings suggest that performance within the extreme-intensity domain is limited by mechanisms, at least in part, different from those that limit performance within the severe-intensity domain.
More Related Videos
09:24A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers
Published on: January 28, 2020
06:28A Chronic High-Intensity Interval Training and Diet-Induced Obesity Model to Maximize Exercise Effort and Induce Physiologic Changes in Rats
Published on: April 28, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:26Requirements for Human Life
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
01:26Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
01:23Optimal Arousal Theory
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...