The relationships of the critical power to maximal oxygen utilization and anaerobic threshold

Objective: To evaluate the relations among the critical power, maximal oxygen utilization and anaerobic thresh- olds. Method: İn order to determine the maximal oxygen consumption and anaerobic thresholds on 30 sedentary men aged 18-22 years, an incremental maximal exercise test on cycle ergometer was performed. Respiratory gas parameters were recorded by SensorMedics 2900 Metabolic Measurement Cart in every 20, heart rate values were recorded by Polar Sport Tester in every 5 seconds and blood lactate concentrations were determined by Accusport Lactate Analyzer on capillary blood samples from fingerpoint at the end of every two minutes. From the gas exchange parameters and heart rate and lactate values, three separate ventilatory thresholds, heart rate deflection point and the onset of blood lactate accumulation were calculated. Three different loads were applied for the critical power test at different days and linear work-time relationship method was used to estimate the crit­ ical power. Each participant performed an exercise test at his critical power until exhaustion and then the duration of exercise and work were determined. Results: İt was found that the critical power was correlated with VO2max and some anaerobic thresholds. The critical power was lower than the load at which VO2max was occurred, but higher than the loads at which anaerobic thresholds were occurred. The duration of exercise and work at the crit­ ical power were not correlated with VO2max and anaerobic thresholds. Conclusion: Although the critical power is related to the maximal aerobic power and some anaerobic thresholds, we consider that duration of exercise and work at the critical power can not be used as criteria in the determination of endurance since exercise time and work at the critical power are not correlated to these endurance parameters.