Prior exercise impairs subsequent performance in an intensity- and duration-dependant manner

Prior constant-load exercise performed for 30-min at or above maximal lactate steady state (MLSSp) significantly impairs subsequent time-to-task failure (TTF) compared with TTF performed without prior exercise. We tested the hypothesis that TTF would decrease in relation to the intensity and the duration of prior exercise compared with a baseline TTF trial. Eleven individuals (6 males, 5 females, aged 28 ± 8 yrs) completed the following tests on a cycle ergometer (randomly assigned after MLSSp was determined): (i) a ramp-incremental test; (ii) a baseline TTF trial performed at 80% of peak power (TTFb); (iii) five 30-min constant-PO rides at 5% below lactate threshold (LT−5%), halfway between LT and MLSSp (Delta50), 5% below MLSSp (MLSS−5%), MLSSp, and 5% above MLSSp (MLSS+5%); and (iv) 15- and 45-min rides at MLSSp (MLSS15 and MLSS45, respectively). Each condition was immediately followed by a TTF trial at 80% of peak power. Compared with TTFb (330 ± 52 s), there was 8.0 ± 24.1, 23.6 ± 20.2, 41.0 ± 14.8, 52.2 ± 18.9, and 75.4 ± 7.4% reduction in TTF following LT−5%, Delta50, MLSS−5%, MLSSp, and MLSS+5%, respectively. Following MLSS15 and MLSS45 there were 29.0 ± 20.1 and 69.4 ± 19.6% reductions in TTF, respectively (P < 0.05). It is concluded that TTF is reduced following prior exercise of varying duration at MLSSp and at submaximal intensities below MLSS.