There has been little research regarding cardiorespiratory responses during submaximal exercise at the maximal lactate steady state intensity (MLSSint) until exhaustion. The objective of this study was to investigate the responses of oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR) and oxygen pulse (O2 pulse) during exercise to exhaustion at MLSSint, and to compare energy expenditure (EE) estimated by VO2 and HR. Twelve trained athletes followed an incremental protocol on a cycle ergometer to determine maximal and submaximal parameters of aerobic metabolism. On subsequent occasions they performed 2 to 4 30-minute tests with constant load to identify MLSSint. Finally, they underwent a test to exhaustion at MLSSint. Cardiorespiratory parameters were measured continuously during all tests. During the test to exhaustion, physiological responses were compared for six points in time calculated as percentages of the time to exhaustion (TTE). Mean TTE was 55.1±10.2 min. Oxygen pulse presented significant reduction over time, decreasing to a value 9% lower than baseline at the exhaustion point. This fact was the result of increases in HR over time that was disproportional to the increase in VO2, resulting in significant differences between EE estimates. Therefore, there appears to be a gradual loss of cardiorespiratory efficiency during exercise to exhaustion at MLSSint that is shown by the reduction in O2 pulse. The direct relationship between VO2 and HR with workload presents variations over the course of exercise, leading to errors when EE is estimated using HR.
Cycling; Fatigue; Oxygen pulse; Submaximal exercise
