Purpose: To investigate whether W ′ in the extreme-intensity domain is smaller, yet linked to the W ′ predicted by the severe-intensity time series. Methods: Twelve recreationally active participants (four females) completed 1) three extreme-intensity and three severe-intensity constant-power output (PO) trials to establish the PO duration series and to obtain W ′ within their respective domains ( W ′ EXT and W ′ SVR , respectively); 2) two decremental protocols from extreme-to-severe (EXT 1 → SVR 3 ) and from severe-to-severe POs (SVR 2 → SVR 3 ); 3) one extreme- and one severe-intensity constant-PO trial preceded by priming exercise (EXT 1P and SVR 2P , respectively); and 4) control extreme- and severe-intensity constant-PO trials. Peak values for oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak ), blood lactate concentration (La − b-peak ), and minute ventilation (V̇ Epeak ) were also analyzed. Results: W ′ EXT was significantly smaller than W ′ SVR ( P 0.05). Priming-induced increase in W ′ EXT and W ′ SVR was not different ( P = 0.401). V̇O 2peak , V̇ Epeak , and La − b-peak were all greater in EXT 1P compared with EXT 1 (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: We showed that W ′ EXT is smaller than W ′ SVR during cycling. Following task failure during EXT 1 , more work could be performed at SVR 3 until complete depletion of W ′ SVR . Additionally, heavy-intensity priming exercise increased W ′ EXT and W ′ SVR by a similar magnitude. Collectively, these findings suggest that performance within the extreme-intensity domain is limited by mechanisms, at least in part, different from those that limit performance within the severe-intensity domain.
Marinari et al. (Thu,) studied this question.