Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Sports Medicine
Published in: Sports Medicine 10/2001

01-08-2001 | Review Article

Energy System Interaction and Relative Contribution During Maximal Exercise

Author: Dr Paul B. Gastin

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 10/2001

Login to get access

Abstract

There are 3 distinct yet closely integrated processes that operate together to satisfy the energy requirements of muscle. The anaerobic energy systemis divided into alactic and lactic components, referring to the processes involved in the splitting of the stored phosphagens, ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr), and the nonaerobic breakdown of carbohydrate to lactic acid through glycolysis. The aerobic energy system refers to the combustion of carbohydrates and fats in the presence of oxygen. The anaerobic pathways are capable of regenerating ATP at high rates yet are limited by the amount of energy that can be released in a single bout of intense exercise. In contrast, the aerobic system has an enormous capacity yet is somewhat hampered in its ability to delivery energy quickly. The focus of this review is on the interaction and relative contribution of the energy systems during single bouts of maximal exercise. A particular emphasis has been placed on the role of the aerobic energy system during high intensity exercise.
Attempts to depict the interaction and relative contribution of the energy systems during maximal exercise first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s. While insightful at the time, these representations were based on calculations of anaerobic energy release that now appear questionable. Given repeated reproduction over the years, these early attempts have lead to 2 common misconceptions in the exercise science and coaching professions. First, that the energy systems respond to the demands of intense exercise in an almost sequential manner, and secondly, that the aerobic system responds slowly to these energy demands, thereby playing little role in determining performance over short durations. More recent research suggests that energy is derived from each of the energy-producing pathways during almost all exercise activities. The duration of maximal exercise at which equal contributions are derived from the anaerobic and aerobic energy systems appears to occur between 1 to 2 minutes and most probably around 75 seconds, a time that is considerably earlier than has traditionally been suggested.
Literature
1.
Fox EL, Robinson S, Wiegman DL. Metabolic energy sources during continuous and interval running. J Appl Physiol 1969; 27 (2): 174–8PubMed
2.
Fox EL. Sports physiology. 1st ed. London: Saunders College Publishing, 1979
3.
Howald H, von Glutz G, Billeter R. Energy stores and substrate utilization in muscle during exercise. In: Landry F, Orban WAR, editors. The Third International Symposium on Biochemistry of Exercise; Miami (FL). Miami (FL): Miami Symposia Specialists, 1978: 75–86
4.
Mathews DK, Fox EL. The physiological basis of physical education and athletics. Philadelphia (PA): W.B. Saunders, 1971
5.
Astrand P-O, Rodahl K. Textbook of work physiology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970
6.
Astrand I, Astrand P-O, Christensen EH, et al. Myohemoglobin as an oxygen-store in man. Acta Physiol Scand 1960; 48: 454–60PubMedCrossRef
7.
Astrand P-O, Saltin B. Oxygen uptake during the first minutes of heavy muscular exercise. J Appl Physiol 1961; 16: 971–6PubMed
8.
Astrand P-O. Aerobic and anaerobic energy sources in exercise. Med Sport Sci 1981; 13: 22–37
9.
Jacobs I. Blood lactate: implications for training and sports performance. Sports Med 1986; 3: 10–25PubMedCrossRef
10.
Jacobs I, Kaiser P. Lactate in blood, mixed skeletal muscle, and FT or ST fibres during cycle exercise in man. Acta Physiol Scand 1982; 114: 461–6PubMedCrossRef
11.
Tesch PA, Daniels WL, Sharp DS. Lactate accumulation in muscle and blood during submaximal exercise. Acta Physiol Scand 1982; 114: 441–6PubMedCrossRef
12.
Gollnick PD, Bayly WM, Hodgson DR. Exercise intensity, training, diet, and lactate concentration in muscle and blood. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1986; 18 (3): 334–40PubMedCrossRef
13.
Margaria R, Edwards HT, Dill DB. The possible mechanisms of contracting and paying the oxygen debt and the role of lactic acid in muscular contraction. Am J Physiol 1933; 106: 689–715
14.
Hill AV, Lupton H. Muscular exercise, lactic acid and the supply and utilization of oxygen. Q J Med 1923; 16: 135–71CrossRef
15.
Hermansen L. Anaerobic energy release. Med Sci Sports 1969; 1 (1): 32–8
16.
17.
Saltin B. Anaerobic capacity: past, present, and future. In: Taylor AW, editor. Biochemistry of exercise VII: international series on sport sciences. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 1990: 387–412
18.
Bangsbo J, Gollnick PD, Graham TE, et al. Anaerobic energy production and O2 deficit-debt relationships during exhaustive exercise in humans. J Physiol 1990; 422: 539–59PubMed
19.
Gaesser GA, Brooks GA. Metabolic bases of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption: a review. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1984; 16 (1): 29–43PubMed
20.
Rieu M, Duvallet A, Scharapan L, et al. Blood lactate accumulation in intermittent supramaximal exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 1988; 57: 235–42CrossRef
21.
Bouchard C, Taylor AW, Simoneau J, et al. Testing anaerobic power and capacity. In: MacDougall JD, Wenger HA, Green HJ, editors. Physiological testing of the high-performance athlete. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 1991
22.
Jacobs I, Tesch PA, Bar-Or O, et al. Lactate in human skeletal muscle after 10 and 30 s of supramaximal exercise. J Appl Physiol 1983; 55 (2): 365–7PubMed
23.
Gaitanos GC, Williams C, Boobis LH, et al. Human muscle metabolism during intermittent maximal exercise. J Appl Physiol 1993; 75 (2): 712–9PubMed
24.
Nevill ME, Bogdanis GC, Boobis LH, et al. Muscle metabolism and performance during sprinting. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 1996; 243–59
25.
Medbo JI, Tabata I. Relative importance of aerobic and anaerobic energy release during short-lasting exhaustive bicycle exercise. J Appl Physiol 1989; 67 (5): 1881–6PubMed
26.
Withers RT, Sherman WM, Clark DG, et al. Muscle metabolism during 30, 60, and 90 s of maximum cycling on an air-braked ergometer. Eur J Appl Physiol 1991; 63: 354–62CrossRef
27.
Bergstrom J. Muscle electrolytes in man, determined by neutron activation analysis on needle biopsy specimens: a study on normal subjects, kidney patients and patients with chronic diarrhoea. Scand J Clin Lab Investig 1962; 14 Suppl. 68: 1
28.
Medbo JI, Mohn A, Tabata I, et al. Anaerobic capacity determined by maximal accumulated O2 deficit. J Appl Physiol 1988; 64 (1): 50–60PubMed
29.
Blomstrand E, Ekblom B. The needle biopsy technique for fibre type determination in human skeletal muscle: a methodological study. Acta Physiol Scand 1982; 116: 437–42PubMedCrossRef
30.
Bangsbo J. Quantification of anaerobic energy production during intense exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998; 30 (1): 47–52PubMedCrossRef
31.
Gastin PB. Quantification of anaerobic capacity. Scand J Med Sci Sports 1994; 4: 91–112CrossRef
32.
Bangsbo J, Johansen L, Graham T, et al. Lactate and H+ effluxes from human skeletal muscles during intense, dynamic exercise. J Physiol 1993; 462: 115–33PubMed
33.
Krogh A, Lindhard J. The changes in respiration at the transition from work to rest. J Physiol 1920; 53: 431–7PubMed
34.
Graham TE. Oxygen deficit: introduction to the assumptions and the skepticism. Can J Appl Physiol 1996; 21 (5): 347–9PubMedCrossRef
35.
Bangsbo J. Oxygen deficit: a measure of the anaerobic energy production during intense exercise. Can J Appl Physiol 1996; 21 (5): 350–63PubMedCrossRef
36.
Medbo JI. Is the maximal accumulated oxygen deficit an adequate measure of the anerobic capacity. Can J Appl Physiol 1996; 21 (5): 370–83PubMedCrossRef
37.
Gaesser GA, Brooks GA. Muscular efficiency during steadyrate exercise: effects of speed and work rate. J Appl Physiol 1975; 38 (6): 1132–9PubMed
38.
Gladden LB, Welch HG. Efficiency of anaerobic work. J Appl Physiol 1978; 44 (4): 564–70PubMed
39.
Luhtanen P, Rahkila P, Rusko H, et al. Mechanical work and efficiency in ergometer bicycling at aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. Acta Physiol Scand 1987; 131: 331–7PubMedCrossRef
40.
Gastin PB, Costill DL, Lawson DL, et al. Accumulated oxygen deficit during supramaximal all-out and constant intensity exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1995; 27 (2): 255–63PubMed
41.
Lamb DR. Basic principles for improving sport performance. GSSI Sports Sci Exch 1995; 8 (2): 1–6
42.
Ward-Smith AJ. Aerobic and anaerobic energy conversion during high-intensity exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31 (12): 1855–60PubMedCrossRef
43.
Spriet LL. Anaerobic metabolism during high-intensity exercise. In: Hargreaves M, editor. Exercise metabolism. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 1995: 1–39
44.
Lakomy HKA. Physiology and biochemistry of sprinting. In: Hawley JA, editor. Running: handbook of sports medicine and science. Oxford: Blackwell Science, 2000: 1–13CrossRef
45.
Maughan RJ, Gleeson M, Greenhaff PL. Biochemistry of exercise and training. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997
46.
Hermansen L. Muscular fatigue during maximal exercise of short duration. Med Sport Sci 1981; 13: 45–52
47.
Hultman E, Bergstrom M, Spriet LL, et al. Energy metabolism and fatigue. In: Taylor AW, editor. Biochemistry of exercise VII: international series on sport sciences. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 1990: 73–92
48.
Saltin B, Gollnick PD. Skeletal muscle adaptability: significance for metabolism and performance. In: Peachey LD, Adrian R, Geiger SR, editors. Handbook of physiology. Baltimore (MD): Williams & Wilkins, 1983: 555–631
49.
Jacobs I, Bar-Or O, Karlsson J, et al. Changes in muscle metabolites in females with 30-s exhaustive exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1982; 14 (6): 457–60PubMedCrossRef
50.
Bogdanis GC, Nevill ME, Boobis LH, et al. Recovery of power output and muscle metabolites following 30 s of maximal sprint cycling in man. J Physiol 1995; 482 (2): 467–80PubMed
51.
Vollestad NK, Sejersted OM. Biochemical correlates of fatigue. Eur J Appl Physiol 1988; 57: 336–47CrossRef
52.
53.
McLester JR. Muscle contraction and fatigue: the role of adenosine 5’-diphosphate and inorganic phosphate. Sports Med 1997; 23 (5): 287–305PubMedCrossRef
54.
Newsholme EA, Start C. Regulation in metabolism. London: Wiley & Sons, 1973
55.
Green HJ. Manifestations and sites of neuromuscular fatigue. In: Taylor AW, editor. Biochemistry of exercise VII: international series on sport sciences. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 1990: 13–35
56.
Faina M, Billat V, Squadrone R, et al. Anaerobic contribution to the time to exhaustion at the minimal exercise intensity at which maximal oxygen uptake occurs in elite cyclists, kayakists and swimmers. Eur J Appl Physiol 1997; 76: 13–20CrossRef
57.
Fitts RH, Kim DH, Witzmann FA. The development of fatigue during high intensity and endurance exercise. In: Nagle FJ, Montoye HJ, editors. Exercise in health and disease. Springfield (IL): Charles C. Thomas, 1981: 118–35
58.
59.
Whipp BJ. Rate constant for the kinetics of oxygen uptake during light exercise. J Appl Physiol 1971; 30 (2): 261–3PubMed
60.
Armon Y, Cooper DM, Flores R, et al. Oxygen uptake dynamics during high-intensity exercise in children and adults. J Appl Physiol 1991; 70 (2): 841–8PubMedCrossRef
61.
Paterson DH, Whipp BJ. Asymmetries of oxygen uptake transients at the on- and offset of heavy exercise in humans. J Physiol 1991; 443: 575–86PubMed
62.
Gastin PB, Lawson DL. Variable resistance all-out test to generate accumulated oxygen deficit and predict anaerobic capacity. Eur J Appl Physiol 1994; 69: 331–6CrossRef
63.
Katch VL. Kinetics of oxygen uptake and recovery for supramaximal work of short duration. Int Z Angew Physiol 1973; 31: 197–207PubMed
64.
Kavanagh MH, Jacobs I. Breath-by-breath oxygen consumption during performance of theWingate test. Can J Appl Sport Sci 1988; 13 (1): 91–3
65.
Smith JC, Hill DW. Contribution of energy systems during a Wingate power test. Br J Sports Med 1991; 25 (4): 196–9PubMedCrossRef
66.
Calbet JAL, Chavarren J, Dorado C. Fractional use of anaerobic capacity during a 30- and a 45-s Wingate test. Eur J Appl Physiol 1997; 76: 308–13CrossRef
67.
Hermansen L, Medbø JI. The relative significance of aerobic and anaerobic processes during maximal exercise of short duration. Med Sport Sci 1984; 17: 56–67
68.
O’Brien B, Payne W, Gastin P, et al. A comparison of active and passive warm ups on energy system contribution and performance in moderate heat. Aust J Sci Med Sport 1997; 29 (4): 106–9PubMed
69.
Bogdanis GC, Nevill ME, Boobis LH, et al. Contribution of phosphocreatine and aerobic metabolism to energy supply during repeated sprint exercise. J Appl Physiol 1996; 80 (3): 876–84PubMed
70.
Bogdanis GC, Nevill ME, Lakomy HKA, et al. Power output and muscle metabolism during and following recovery from 10 and 20 s of maximal sprint exercise in humans. Acta Physiol Scand 1998; 163: 261–72PubMedCrossRef
71.
Bogdanis GC, Nevill ME, Lakomy HKA, et al. Effects of active recovery on power output during repeated maximal sprint cycling. Eur J Appl Physiol 1996; 74: 461–9CrossRef
72.
Pagenelli W, Pendergast DR, Koness J, et al. The effect of decreased muscle energy stores on the VȮ2 kinetics at the onset of exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 1989; 59: 321–6CrossRef
73.
Bangsbo J, Michalsik L, Petersen A. Accumulated O2 deficit during intense exercise and muscle characteristics of elite athletes. Int J Sports Med 1993; 14 (4): 207–13PubMedCrossRef
74.
Craig NP, Norton KI, Conyers RAJ, et al. Influence of test duration and event specificity on maximal accumulated oxygen deficit on high performance track cyclists. Int J Sports Med 1995; 16 (8): 534–40PubMedCrossRef
75.
Di Prampero PE, Capelli C, Pagliaro P, et al. Energetics of best performances in middle-distance running. J Appl Physiol 1993; 74 (5): 2318–24PubMed
76.
Gastin PB, Lawson DL. Influence of training status on maximal accumulated oxygen deficit during all-out exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 1994; 69: 321–30CrossRef
77.
Green S, Dawson BT, Goodman C, et al. Anaerobic ATP production and accumulated O2 deficit in cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1996; 28 (3): 315–21PubMed
78.
Hill DW. Energy system contributions in middle-distance running events. J Sports Sci 1999; 17: 477–83PubMedCrossRef
79.
Locatelli E, Arsac L. The mechanics and energetics of the 100m sprint. New Stud Athlet 1995; 10 (1): 81–7
80.
Medbø JI, Sejersted OM. Acid-base and electrolyte balance after exhausting exercise in endurance-trained and sprint trained subjects. Acta Physiol Scand 1985; 125: 97–109PubMedCrossRef
81.
Morton DP, Gastin PB. Effect of high intensity board training on upper body anaerobic capacity and short-lasting exercise performance. Aust J Sci Med Sport 1997; 29 (1): 17–21PubMed
82.
Morton DP. Quantification of anaerobic capacity on the swim bench ergometer [masters thesis]. Ballarat (VIC): Ballarat University College, 1992
83.
Nummela A, Rusko H. Time course of anaerobic and aerobic energy expenditure during short-term exhaustive running in athletes. Int J Sports Med 1995; 16 (8): 522–7PubMedCrossRef
84.
Olesen HL, Raabo E, Bangsbo J, et al. Maximal oxygen deficit of sprint and middle distance runners. Eur J Appl Physiol 1994; 69: 140–6CrossRef
85.
Péronnet F, Thibault G. Mathematical analysis of running performance and world running records. J Appl Physiol 1989; 67 (1): 453–65PubMed
86.
Ramsbottom R, Nevill AM, Nevill ME, et al. Accumulated oxygen deficit and short-distance running performance. J Sports Sci 1994; 12: 447–53PubMedCrossRef
87.
Ramsbottom R, Nevill ME, Nevill AM, et al. Accumulated oxygen deficit and shuttle run performance in physically active men and women. J Sports Sci 1997; 15: 207–14PubMedCrossRef
88.
Serresse O, Lortie G, Bouchard C, et al. Estimation of the contribution of the various energy systems during maximal work of short duration. Int J Sports Med 1988; 9 (6): 456–60PubMedCrossRef
89.
Spencer MR, Gastin PB. Energy system contribution during 200 to 1500m running in highly trained athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001; 33 (1): 157–62PubMed
90.
Spencer MR, Gastin PB, Payne WR. Energy system contribution during 400 to 1500 metres running. New Stud Athlet 1996; 11 (4): 59–65
91.
van Ingen Schenau GJ, Jacobs R, de Koning JJ. Can cycle power predict sprint running performance. Eur J Appl Physiol 1991; 63: 255–60CrossRef
92.
Ward-Smith AJ. A mathematical theory of running, based on the first law of thermodynamics, and its application to the performance of world-class athletes. J Biomech 1985; 18 (5): 337–49PubMedCrossRef
93.
Withers RT, Van Der Ploeg G, Finn JP. Oxygen deficits incurred during 45, 60, 75 and 90-s maximal cycling on an air-braked ergometer. Eur J Appl Physiol 1993; 67: 185–91CrossRef
94.
New Studies in Athletics Round Table. Speed in the 800 metres. New Stud Athlet 1996; 11 (4): 7–22
95.
Fox EL, Bowers RW, Foss ML. The physiological basis for exercise and sport. 5th ed. Dubuque (IA): Wm. C. Brown Communications, 1993
96.
McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL. Essentials of exercise physiology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2000
97.
Finn J, Gastin P, Withers R, et al. Estimation of peak power and anaerobic capacity of athletes. In: Gore C, editor. Physiological tests for elite athletes. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 2000: 37–49
98.
Bouchard C, Taylor AW, Dulac S. Testing maximal anaerobic power and capacity. In: MacDougall JD, Wenger HA, Green HJ, editors. Physiological testing of the elite athlete. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics, 1982
Metadata
Title
Energy System Interaction and Relative Contribution During Maximal Exercise
Author
Dr Paul B. Gastin
Publication date
01-08-2001
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sports Medicine / Issue 10/2001
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200131100-00003