Critical power is a key threshold determining the magnitude of post‐exercise hypotension in non‐hypertensive young males

Abstract

Abstract The effect of different exercise intensities on the magnitude of post‐exercise hypotension has not been rigorously clarified with respect to the metabolic thresholds that partition discrete exercise intensity domains (i.e., critical power and the gas exchange threshold (GET)). We hypothesized that the magnitude of post‐exercise hypotension would be greater following isocaloric exercise performed above versus below critical power. Twelve non‐hypertensive men completed a ramp incremental exercise test to determine maximal oxygen uptake and the GET, followed by five exhaustive constant load trials to determine critical power and W′ (work available above critical power). Subsequently, criterion trials were performed at four discrete intensities matched for total work performed (i.e., isocaloric) to determine the impact of exercise intensity on post‐exercise hypotension: 10% above critical power (10% > CP), 10% below critical power (10% GET) and 10% below GET (10% CP: −12.7 ± 8.3 vs. 10% CP: −9.6 ± 9.8 vs. 10% CP: −23.8 ± 7.0 vs. 10% CP compared to all other trials (all P 0.05). Critical power represents a threshold above which the magnitude of post‐exercise hypotension is greatly augmented.

Keywords

• cardiovascular health
• critical power
• exercise intensity
• post‐exercise baroreflex