Longitudinal Changes in the Oxygen Uptake Kinetic Response to Heavy-Intensity Exercise in 14- to 16-Year-Old Boys

This study examined longitudinal changes in the pulmonary oxygen uptake (p(V) over dotO(2)) kinetic response to heavy-intensity exercise in 14-16 yr old boys. Fourteen healthy boys (age 14.1 +/- 0.2 yr) completed exercise testing on two occasions with a 2-yr interval. Each participant completed a minimum of three 'step' exercise transitions, from unloaded pedalling to a constant work rate corresponding to 40% of the difference between the (p(V) over dotO(2)) (2), at the gas exchange threshold and peak (p(V) over dotO(2)) , (40% A). Over the 2-yr period a significant increase in the phase II time constant (25 5 vs. 30 +/- 5 s; p = .002, omega(2) = 0.34), the relative amplitude of the (p(V) over dotO(2)) slow component (9 +/- 5 vs. 13 +/- 4%; p = .036, omega(2) = 0.14) and the(p(V) over dotO(2)) gain at end-exercise (11.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 12.4 +/- 0.7 mL.min(-1).W-1; p < .001, omega(2) = 0.42) were observed. These data indicate that the control of oxidative phosphorylation in response to heavy-intensity cycling exercise is age-dependent in teenage boys.