HYPEROXIA DURING RECOVERY IMPROVES PEAK POWER DURING REPEATED WINGATE CYCLE PERFORMANCE.

KAY, B.; STANNARD, S. R.; MORTON, R. H. Hyperoxia during recovery improvespeak power during repeated Wingate cycle performance. Brazilian Journal ofBiomotricity, v. 2, n. 2, p. 92-100, 2008. Purpose: We have used a random order singleblind crossover design to assess the effect of breathing 21% O2, 60% O2, and 100% O2during a four-minute recovery from a 30s maximal cycle exercise protocol on repeatperformance of the exercise. All pairs of Wingate tests were undertaken by participantsbreathing ambient air, the O2 percentage was manipulated only during recoverybetween the exercise bouts. Participants: Participants were 12 males: age 20 or 21,height 181 ± 11 cm, body mass 79 ± 7 kg [means ± SD]). Results: Peak power outputwas higher during the second Wingate test after 100% O2 breathing than after both21% and 60% O2 breathing, however the rate of fatigue was closely correlated withpeak power. Total work was similar for all second tests. Conclusions: 100% O2breathing during a four-minute recovery from maximal exercise appears to improveabsolute power output in a subsequent exhaustive exercise test, however the rate offatigue is also increased and the transient ergogenic effect is therefore short lived:perhaps 1-2 seconds. The utility of such an intervention to most sports and physicallydemanding situations is therefore likely to be limited.