Abstract
Thirty-three untrained subjects of both sexes, 18-31 years of age, performed several
tests on cycle ergometers. Maximal aerobic power (MAP) was obtained in a progressive
work test. Maximal aerobic capacity (MAC) was measured in a 90-min maximal test and
was computed as the total work output during that period. Two all-out cycle ergometer
work tests lasting 10s and 90s were used to estimate the anaerobic alactic capacity
(AAC) and lactic capacity (ALC). Anaerobic alactic power (AAP) was computed as the
highest output in 1 s in the AAC test and anaerobic lactic power (ALP) was obtained
as the mean output during the last 5 s in an all-out test of 30 s. Correlation coefficients
were computed between all measurements of capacity and power expressed per kg of body
weight as well as with scores adjusted for sex differences. Common variances (r
2 × 100) between measurements of power were either low (MAP-AAP, 40%) or moderate (MAP-ALP,
61%; AAP-ALP, 62%) while common variances between measurements of capacity were sometimes
low (MAC-AAC, 49%) or higher (MAC-ALC, 76%; AAC-ALC, 77%). The common variances between
tests of power and capacity reached high values when calculated with metabolic criteria
of the same class (MAP-MAC, 81%; AAP-AAC, 92%). These results provide quantitative
evidence to support the notion of specificity between the aerobic and the anaerobic
work performances and support the distinction between capacity and power of the three
energy systems.
Key words
aerobic power - aerobic capacity - anaerobic power - anaerobic capacity - ventilatory
threshold
