Correlation of Isocapnic Buffering Phase with Aerobic and Anaerobic Power in Athletes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to detect the relationship of isocapnic buffering phase values with the values of both aerobic and anaerobic power. A total of 14 athletes, five females and nine males, with ages between 18 and 25 volunteered to participate in the present study. At the beginning, the values of height, body mass, and body fat ratio of the volunteers were collected as required. Then, a maximal exercise test was applied to the volunteers and during the test, the values of maximal oxygen consumption capacity (VO2max), amount of oxygen consumed (VO2), amount of carbon dioxide produced (VCO2), ventilatory threshold, respiratory compensation point, and maximal heart rate were determined. Isocapnic buffering and hypocapnic hyperventilation phases were determined from the ventilatory threshold and respiratory compensation point values. One week after the maximal exercise test, the Wingate anaerobic test was applied to the volunteers and anaerobic power values were calculated. A significant relationship was found between the values of isocapnic buffering and hypocapnic hyperventilation, and the values of maximal heart rate (beats/min), ventilatory threshold VO2 (ml/kg/min), ventilatory threshold heart rate (beats/min), ventilatory threshold speed (km/hour), respiratory compensation point heart rate (beats/min), and respiratory compensation point speed (km/hour) in both male and female volunteers. The findings collected hereby indicate that as the VO2max levels of athletes increase, both their cardiopulmonary data and anaerobic power values and also their ability to resist the intensity of exercises applied after entering anaerobic threshold, increase.