Sex-Related Differences in Self-Paced All Out High-Intensity Intermittent Cycling: Mechanical and Physiological Responses

Valéria L G Panissa; Ursula F Julio; Vanessa França; Fabio S Lira; Peter Hofmann; Monica Y Takito; Emerson Franchini

Sex-Related Differences in Self-Paced All Out High-Intensity Intermittent Cycling: Mechanical and Physiological Responses

J Sports Sci Med. 2016 May 23;15(2):372-8. eCollection 2016 Jun.

Authors

Valéria L G Panissa¹, Ursula F Julio¹, Vanessa França², Fabio S Lira², Peter Hofmann³, Monica Y Takito⁴, Emerson Franchini¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sport, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil.
² Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Department of Physical Education, University State Estadual Paulista , UNESP, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
³ Institute of Sports Science, Exercise Physiology, Training & Training Therapy Research Group; University of Graz , Austria.
⁴ Department of Human Movement Pedagogy, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil.

PMID: 27274678
PMCID: PMC4879454

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare sex-related responses to a self-paced all out high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE). 9 women and 10 men were submitted to a maximal incremental test (to determine maximum aerobic power - MAP and VO2peak), and an HIIE cycling (60x8s:12s, effort:pause). During the protocol the mean value of V̇O2 and heart rate for the entire exercise (VO2total and HRtotal) as well as the values only in the effort or pause (V̇O2effort, VO2pause and HReffort and HRpause) relative to VO2peak were measured. Anaerobic power reserve (APR), blood lactate [La] and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were also measured. These variables were compared between men and women using the unpaired t test. Men used greater APR (109 ± 12%MAP vs 92 ± 6%MAP) with similar V̇O2total (74 ± 7 vs 78 ± 8% VO2peak), however, when effort and pause were analysed separately, V̇O2effort (80 ± 9 vs 80 ± 5%VO2peak) was similar between sexes, while V̇O2pause was lower in men (69 ± 6% vs 77 ± 11% VO2peak, respectively). Women presented lower power decrement (30 ± 11 vs 11 ± 3%), RER (1.04 ± 0.03 vs 1.00 ± 0.02) and [La]peak (8.6 ± 0.9 vs 5.9 ± 2.3 mmol.L(-1)). Thus, we can conclude that men self-paced HIIE at higher APR but with the same cardiovascular/aerobic solicitation as women. Key pointsMen self-paced high-intensity intermittent exercise at higher intensities than women.Men utilized greater anaerobic power reserve than women.Men and women had same cardiovascular solicitation.

Keywords: Oxygen uptake; anaerobic power reserve; sexual dimorphism.