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01-12-2007 | Original Article

Hyperoxia improves 20 km cycling time trial performance by increasing muscle activation levels while perceived exertion stays the same

Authors: Ross Tucker, Bengt Kayser, Erin Rae, Laurie Rauch, Andrew Bosch, Timothy Noakes

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 6/2007

Abstract

Increasing inspiratory oxygen tension improves exercise performance. We tested the hypothesis that this is partly due to changes in muscle activation levels while perception of exertion remains unaltered. Eleven male subjects performed two 20-km cycling time-trials, one in hyperoxia (HI, F_iO₂ 40%) and one in normoxia (NORM, F_iO₂ 21%). Every 2 km we measured power output, heart rate, blood lactate, integrated vastus lateralis EMG activity (iEMG) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Performance was improved on average by 5% in HI compared to NORM (P < 0.01). Changes in heart rate, plasma lactate concentration and RPE during the trials were similar. For the majority of the time-trials, power output was maintained in HI, but decreased progressively in NORM (P < 0.01) while it increased in both trials for the last kilometre (P < 0.0001). iEMG was proportional to power output and was significantly greater in HI than in NORM. iEMG activity increased significantly in the final kilometer of both trials (P < 0.001). This suggests that improved exercise performance in hyperoxia may be the result of increased muscle activation leading to greater power outputs. The finding of identical RPE, lactate and heart rate in both trials suggests that pacing strategies are altered to keep the actual and perceived exercise stress at a similar level between conditions. We suggest that a complex, intelligent system regulates exercise performance through the control of muscle activation levels in an integrative manner under conditions of normoxia and hyperoxia.

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Title: Hyperoxia improves 20 km cycling time trial performance by increasing muscle activation levels while perceived exertion stays the same
Authors: Ross Tucker
Bengt Kayser
Erin Rae
Laurie Rauch
Andrew Bosch
Timothy Noakes
Publication date: 01-12-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 6/2007
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0458-z

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Hyperoxia improves 20 km cycling time trial performance by increasing muscle activation levels while perceived exertion stays the same

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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