An Alternate to Accumulated Oxygen Deficit (AOD) for Measuring Anaerobic Contribution: ‘AODalt’ is Valid in Normoxia and Hypoxia

Authors

Austin Shaw, University of North TexasFollow
John Michael MihalekFollow
David W. Hill, University of North TexasFollow

Abstract

Accumulated oxygen deficit (AOD) is the gold standard measure of anaerobic contribution; however, its calculation requires several contentious assumptions and it is time-consuming, requiring participants to perform a number of submaximal exercise bouts to establish exercise efficiency. A new method, AODalt, requires performance of only a single bout of exercise, and is based on the presumption that the fast phase of the post-exercise oxygen uptake (VO₂) profile reflects the alactic or phosphocreatine (PCr) contribution and that the exercise-induced increase in blood lactate concentration is quantitatively related to the lactic or glycolytic contribution representing a measure of total anaerobic contribution. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of an alternate measure, AODalt. METHODS: In Study One, six women (mean ± SD age, 23 ± 1 y) and three men (23 ± 0 y) performed three 6-min bouts of heavy intensity cycle ergometer exercise, one in normoxia (F_IO₂ ~21 %) and two under hypoxic conditions (F_IO₂ ~15 % and ~12 %). In Study Two, four women (23 ± 1 y) and two men (23 ± 0 y) performed severe intensity tests to exhaustion, one in normoxia (time to exhaustion ~10 min) and two in hypoxia (F_IO₂ ~15 % and ~10 %; time to exhaustion ~7½ min and ~4 min). Physiological responses were measured during exercise and during 7 min of recovery. RESULTS: In 6 min of heavy exercise, Study One, the alternate and criterion measures of anaerobic contribution (AODalt and AOD, respectively) were correlated both in normoxia and in hypoxia (r ³ 0.82, p < 0.01) although AODalt values were slightly lower (p < 0.01) in normoxia (25 ± 3 mL·kg^–1 vs 28 ± 4 mL·kg^–1). In exhaustive severe intensity exercise, Study Two, the two measures of anaerobic capacity were correlated (r ³ 0.77, p £ 0.02) and not different (p ³ 0.43) in normoxia and at F_IO₂ ~15 % (e.g., 51 ± 9 mL·kg^–1 vs 49 ± 8 mL·kg^–1 in normoxia). However, the AODalt and AOD values were neither correlated (r = 0.27, p = 0.44) nor similar (p < 0.01; 57 ± 8 mL·kg^–1 vs 51 ± 7 mL·kg^–1) at F_IO₂ ~10 %. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the validity of AODalt as a measure of anaerobic contribution / anaerobic capacity in severe intensity exercise, demonstrate its validity in heavy intensity exercise, and assert its validity in conditions of hypoxia (F_IO₂ ³ 12%).

Recommended Citation

Shaw, Austin; Mihalek, John Michael; and Hill, David W. (2024) "An Alternate to Accumulated Oxygen Deficit (AOD) for Measuring Anaerobic Contribution: ‘AODalt’ is Valid in Normoxia and Hypoxia," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 16, Article 205.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss16/205