Locomotion-specific metabolic demands in 30-s anaerobic efforts

This study aimed to examine whether energy system contributions differ across locomotion modalities during 30-s all-out exercise.

Sixteen trained male team-sport athletes completed a Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), a 30-s continuous jumping test (CJ30), and a 30-s all-out running test (RUN30) in randomized order. Aerobic, glycolytic, and phosphagen energy contributions were estimated using the PCr-La-O₂ method based on oxygen uptake, blood lactate accumulation, and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption.

Total energy expenditure was higher in RUN30 (130.8 ± 18.0 kJ) and WAnT (125.6 ± 14.9 kJ) than in CJ30 (95.4 ± 19.6 kJ), and glycolytic energy contribution was also greater in RUN30 (55.2 ± 9.4 kJ) and WAnT (54.3 ± 6.3 kJ) than in CJ30 (26.7 ± 7.9 kJ). Phosphagen energy was higher in RUN30 (49.6 ± 7.5 kJ) than in CJ30 (43.3 ± 10.1 kJ; ηp² = 0.240), with no difference between RUN30 and WAnT. Aerobic energy contribution did not differ across modalities. Blood lactate changes were markedly greater after RUN30 (13.0 ± 1.6 mmol L^-1) and WAnT (12.8 ± 1.2 mmol L^-1) than after CJ30 (5.9 ± 1.7 mmol L^-1). Overall, significant modality effects were observed for total energy expenditure, glycolytic and phosphagen energy contributions, and blood lactate response (all p < 0.001 except phosphagen, p = 0.029), whereas aerobic energy contribution did not differ between modalities (p = 0.425).

These findings indicate modality-associated differences in absolute energy demands, with greater glycolytic and total energy expenditure in running and cycling than jumping.