Y subjects (11 males; mean ± SD age 24 ± 5 yr; V̇O2peak 34.3 ± 5.5 mL·kg−1·min−1) were assigned to one of three groups: a continuous training group that completed three to four sessions per week of 30-min duration at 60% V̇O2peak (LO); an interval training group that completed three to four sessions per week involving 20 × 1-min exercise bouts at 90% V̇O2peak separated by 1-min rest periods (HI); or a control group (CON). Before and after the 6-wk intervention period, all subjects completed a series of step exercise tests to moderate and severe work rates during which pulmonary V̇O2 was measured breath-by-breath. Results: ANOVA revealed that continuous and interval training were similarly effective in reducing the phase II V̇O2 time constant during moderate (LO: from 31 ± 8 to 23 ± 5 s; HI: from 32 ± 9 to 21 ± 4 s; both P < 0.05; CON: from 30 ± 6 to 29 ± 7 s; NSD) and severe exercise (LO: from 35 ± 6 to 24 ± 7 s; HI: from 32 ± 11 to 24 ± 7 s; both P < 0.05; CON: from 27 ± 7 to 25 ± 5 s; NSD) and in reducing the amplitude of the V̇O2 slow component (LO: from 0.38 ± 0.10 to 0.29 ± 0.09 L·min−1; HI: from 0.41 ± 0.28 to 0.30 ± 0.28 L·min−1; both P < 0.05; CON: from 0.54 ± 0.22 to 0.66 ± 0.38 L·min−1; NSD). Conclusions: Six weeks of low-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training were similarly effective in enhancing V̇O2 on-kinetics following step transitions to moderate and severe exercise in previously untrained subjects....

We hypothesized that the performance of prior heavy exercise would speed the phase 2 oxygen consumption (V̇o₂) kinetics during subsequent heavy exercise in the supine position (where perfusion pressure might limit muscle O₂ supply) but not in the upright position. Eight healthy men (mean ± SD age 24 ± 7 yr; body mass 75.0 ± 5.8 kg) completed a double-step test protocol involving two bouts of 6 min of heavy cycle exercise, separated by a 10-min recovery period, on two occasions in each of the upright and supine positions. Pulmonary O₂ uptake was measured breath by breath and muscle oxygenation was assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The NIRS data indicated that the performance of prior exercise resulted in hyperemia in both body positions. In the upright position, prior exercise had no significant effect on the time constant (τ) of the V̇o₂ response in phase 2 ( bout 1: 29 ± 10 vs. bout 2: 28 ± 4 s; P = 0.91) but reduced the amplitude of the V̇o₂ slow component ( bout 1: 0.45 ± 0.16 vs. bout 2: 0.22 ± 0.14 l/min; P = 0.006) during subsequent heavy exercise. In contrast, in the supine position, prior exercise resulted in a significant reduction in the phase 2 τ ( bout 1: 38 ± 18 vs. bout 2: 24 ± 9 s; P = 0.03) but did not alter the amplitude of the V̇o₂ slow component ( bout 1: 0.40 ± 0.29 vs. bout 2: 0.41 ± 0.20 l/min; P = 0.86). These results suggest that the performance of prior heavy exercise enables a speeding of phase 2 V̇o₂ kinetics during heavy exercise in the supine position, presumably by negating an O₂ delivery limitation that was extant in the control condition, but not during upright exercise, where muscle O₂ supply was probably not limiting.

Design would be useful in developing models of good practice and ecologically valid intervention studies. The aim of this research was to quantify the training practices of coaches responsible for the S&C of rowing athletes. A questionnaire was developed that consisted of 6 sections: (a) personal details, (b) physical testing, (c) strength and power development, (d) flexibility development, (e) unique aspects of the program, and (f) any further relevant comments regarding the athletes prescribed training program. Twenty-two rowing and 10 S&C coaches with an average of 10.5 ± 7.2 years' experience agreed to complete the questionnaire. Approximately, 34% coached rowers of Olympic standard, 34% coached national standard, 3% coached regional standard, 19% coached club standard, and 10% coached university standard rowers. All coaches agreed that strength training enhanced rowing performance and the majority (74%) indicated that athletes' strength trained 2-3 times a week. Almost all coaches (94%) reported their rowers performed strength training, with 81% using Olympic lifting, and 91% employing a periodized training model. The clean (63%) and squat (27%) were rated the most important prescribed exercises. Approximately 50% of coaches used plyometrics such as depth jumps, box drills, and standing jumps. Ninety-four percent indicated they conducted physical testing on their rowers, typically assessing cardiovascular endurance (80%), muscular power (70%), muscular strength (70%), and anaerobic capacity (57%). This research represents the only published survey to date on the S&C practices in rowing within Great Britain....

We hypothesized that 4 weeks of recombinant human erythropoietin (RhEPO) treatment would result in a significant increase in haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) and arterial blood O₂‐carrying capacity and that this would (1) increase peak pulmonary oxygen uptake during ramp incremental exercise, and (2) speed kinetics during ‘severe’‐, but not ‘moderate’‐ or ‘heavy’‐intensity, step exercise. Fifteen subjects (mean ±s.d. age 25 ± 4 years) were randomly assigned to either an experimental group which received a weekly subcutaneous injection of RhEPO (150 IU kg⁻¹; n= 8), or a control group (CON) which received a weekly subcutaneous injection of sterile saline (10 ml; n= 7) as a placebo, for four weeks. The subjects and the principal researchers were both blind with respect to the group assignment. Before and after the intervention period, all subjects completed a ramp test for determination of the gas exchange threshold (GET) and , and a number of identical ‘step’ transitions from ‘unloaded’ cycling to work rates requiring 80% GET (moderate), 70% of the difference between the GET and (heavy), and 105% (severe) as determined from the initial ramp test. Pulmonary gas exchange was measured breath‐by‐breath. There were no significant differences between the RhEPO and CON groups for any of the measurements of interest ([Hb], kinetics) before the intervention. Four weeks of RhEPO treatment resulted in a 7% increase both in [Hb] (from 15.8 ± 1.0 to 16.9 ± 0.7 g dl⁻¹; P < 0.01) and (from 47.5 ± 4.2 to 50.8 ± 10.7 ml kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; P < 0.05), with no significant change in CON. RhEPO had no significant effect on kinetics for moderate (Phase II time constant, from 28 ± 8 to 28 ± 7 s), heavy (from 37 ± 12 to 35 ± 11 s), or severe (from 33 ± 15 to 35 ± 15 s) step exercise. Our results indicate that enhancing blood O₂‐carrying capacity and thus the potential for muscle O₂ delivery with RhEPO treatment enhanced the peak but did not influence kinetics, suggesting that the latter is principally regulated by intracellular (metabolic) factors, even during exercise where the requirement is greater than the , at least in young subjects performing upright cycle exercise.