Do graded exercise tests conceal accurate aerobic endurance and physiological overwork markers

Abstract Aim. – To extract from a cycle test aerobic endurance markers and to validate them for longitudinal follow-up of training effects. Materials and methods. – 51 cyclists with high level endurance, 53 ball team sportsmen and 223 sedentary witnesses underwent an incremental cycle test. The notion of used fraction of a functional reserve was systematically applied to three parameters (cardiac frequency fc – mechanical power W · and O 2 intake V · O 2 ) at two selected moments (R =1.00 and second ventilatory threshold VT2). Results. – The fractions Fu of heart rate and power reserves for VT2, and especially for R =1.00, are all the more increased since aerobic endurance is developed: more increased in sportsmen than in sedentary witnesses (very highly significantly) and more increased in cyclists (with very high level endurance) than in ball team sportsmen. Conclusion. – The used fractions of heart rate and power reserve measured at two moments (R =1.00 and VT2) are excellent aerobic endurance markers, usable for longitudinal follow-up of sportsmen (particularly for R =1.00).