Functional threshold power and the (manufactured) critical power controversy

J Sports Sci. 2023 Sep;41(17):1643-1644. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2023.2288757. Epub 2023 Dec 21.

Abstract

We read with concern yet another communication from Dotan regarding the critical power (CP) concept which contains a litany of factual errors, false statements, and dated physiological interpretations. Space does not permit us to rebut every incorrect point made about our work (Wong et al., 2022) and the wider field in which it sits, but we will address what we consider to be some of the more egregious errors in his letter. We would first note, however, that our paper was not actually focused on the critical power concept.

Keywords: VO2 kinetics; VO2 slow component; VO2 steady state; functional threshold power; maximal metabolic steady state.

MeSH terms

  • Exercise Test*
  • Humans
  • Oxygen Consumption* / physiology