Performance Enhancement: What Are the Physiological Limits?

Physiology (Bethesda). 2015 Jul;30(4):282-92. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00052.2014.

Abstract

Our objective is to highlight some key physiological determinants of endurance exercise performance and to discuss how these can be further improved. V̇o2max remains remarkably stable throughout an athletic career. By contrast, exercise economy, lactate threshold, and critical power may be improved in world-class athletes by specific exercise training regimes and/or with more years of training.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization
  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Altitude
  • Anaerobic Threshold
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / metabolism
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism
  • Muscle Contraction*
  • Muscle Fatigue
  • Muscle Strength*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Physical Conditioning, Human / methods
  • Physical Endurance*

Substances

  • Lactic Acid