TIME DOMAIN ANALYSIS OF OXYGEN UPTAKE KINETICS IN ELITE RUNNERS BY PSEUDO RANDOM BINARY SEQUENCE (PRBS) EXERCISE

Oxygen uptake kinetics assessed in the frequency domain are known to be differentially faster in elite endurance runners than in elite sprinters. Breath-by-breath data from PRBS testing have routinely been analysed by application of Fourier methods, however, it is possible to analyse the data in the time domain in the form of a Total Lag Time (TLT). In this study, correlational techniques were applied to yield an output response to a work rate input. An autocorrelation function was performed on the input work rate (WR) and a cross correlation function was performed on input (WR) and output (vO₂). The cross correlation function was analysed by fitting a linear summation of the ramp form of a two-component exponential function to a triangular pulse. Twelve elite male sprinters and 12 elite male endurance runners completed 3 identical PRBS cycles of 300 s with 20 s work rate changes between 25 and 85 W on an electrically braked cycle ergometer at a pedal cadence of 1 Hz. Oxygen uptake was measured on a breath-by-breath basis using a respiratory mass spectrometer. Statistical analysis using the analysis of variance revealed significantly faster oxygen uptake kinetics (TLT) in the elite endurance runners compared with the elite sprinters (33.3 s 3.39SD and 39.91 s 7.14SD respectively) (p < 0.01). The results of this study show that time domain analysis represents a possible alternative to frequency analysis in the study of oxygen uptake kinetics described by PRBS exercise.