Recovery of maximal anaerobic power following dynamic exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the intensity of prior exercise would alter the pattern in recovery of maximal anaerobic power following dynamic exercise. Eight (6 male, 2 female) highly trained triathletes exercised on a cycle ergometer at workloads equivalent to either 60%, 80%, 100%, or 120% of their maximum oxygen uptake on each of four nonconsecutive days. Following each exercise bout, both short-term (STP) and instantaneous (IP) power were measured on an isokinetic dynamometer at 0,1, 2, 3, 4, and 8-min post-exercise. During recovery, power was calculated as the mean peak torque for three consecutive knee extensions (STP) at 60°⋅sec^-1 or as the peak torque for the first extension only (IP).

Immediately post-exercise, STP fell to 85%, 75%, 55% and 47% of pre-exercise values, and IP fell to 83%, 70%, 47% and 39% of pre-exercise values for prior exercise equivalent to 60%, 80%, 100% and 120% VO₂ max, respectively. Both STP and IP had fully recovered by 1 min post-exercise following submaximal workloads (60% and 80%). Recovery was delayed until after 4 min post-exercise following maximal exercise (100%). STP and IP both remained at about 90% of pre-exercise values 8 min post-exercise following supramaximal exercise (120%).

Maximal anaerobic power immediately post-exercise and during recovery was inversely proportional to prior exercise intensity. The pattern of recovery in STP and IP followed a biphasic pattern with a rapid initial recovery and a slower, more prolonged secondary phase. The majority of recovery occurred within the first minute post-exercise. The decrement in power and the initial pattern of recovery were similar to that previously reported for creatine phosphate depletion/recovery during dynamic and isometric exercise. The absolute power regained in the initial phase was not inversely proportional to either exercise intensity or 4-min post-exercise blood lactate levels, which suggests there is little, if any, coupling of initial power recovery to pH recovery. The slower secondary phase paralleled previously reported pH recovery patterns.