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. 2024 Aug 23:12:e17863.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17863. eCollection 2024.

The contribution of energy systems during 15-second sprint exercise in athletes of different sports specializations

Damian Archacki  1 , Jacek Zieliński  1 , Barbara Pospieszna  1 , Michał Włodarczyk  1 , Krzysztof Kusy  1
Affiliations

The contribution of energy systems during 15-second sprint exercise in athletes of different sports specializations

Damian Archacki et al. PeerJ. .

Abstract

Background: Long-term adaptations and ongoing training seem to modify the energy system contribution in highly trained individuals. We aimed to compare the energy metabolism profile during sprint exercise in athletes of different specialties.

Methods: Endurance (n = 17, 20.3 ± 6.0 yrs), speed-power (n = 14, 20.3 ± 2.5 yrs), and mixed (n = 19, 23.4 ± 4.8 yrs) athletes performed adapted 15-second all-out test before and after a general preparation training period. The contribution of phosphagen, glycolytic, and aerobic systems was calculated using the three-component PCr-LA-O2 method.

Results: Between-group differences were observed in the contribution of energy systems in the first and second examinations. The proportions were 47:41:12 in endurance, 35:57:8 in team sports, and 45:48:7 in speed-power athletes. Endurance athletes differed in the phosphagen (p < 0.001) and glycolytic systems (p = 0.006) from team sports and in the aerobic system from speed-power athletes (p = 0.003). No substantial shifts were observed after the general preparatory phase, except a decrease in aerobic energy contribution in team sports athletes (p = 0.048).

Conclusion: Sports specialization and metabolic profile influence energy system contribution during sprint exercise. Highly trained athletes show a stable energy profile during the general preparation phase, indicative of long-term adaptation, rather than immediate training effects.

Keywords: Aerobic metabolism; All-out effort; Glycolysis; Long-term adaptation; Phosphagen system; Wingate test.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare there are no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the study design.
Graph created using Canva.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Testing procedure.
Graph created using Canva.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Relative contribution (%) of the energy systems during the 15-second Wingate test.
(A) Relative contribution (%) in endurance, mixed, and speed-power athletes. (B) Athletes grouped by high/low maximal oxygen uptake V̇O2max and high/low peak power (PP). (C) Athletes grouped by high/low V̇O2max. (D) Athletes grouped by high/low high/low PP. Black: phosphagen system, grey: glycolytic system, white: aerobic system. Values are expressed as means of each energy system (%). * significant differences in the contribution of various systems between groups. H-V̇O2max/L-PP–High V̇O2max and low peak power L-V̇O2max/H-PP–Low V̇O2max and high peak power H-V̇O2max/H-PP–High V̇O2max and high peak power LV̇O2max/L-PP–Low V̇O2max and low peak power.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Energy expenditure (kJ) during the 15-second Wingate test.
(A) Energy expenditure (kJ) in endurance, mixed, and speed-power athletes. (B) Athletes grouped by high/low maximal oxygen uptake V̇O2max and high/low peak power (PP). (C) Athletes grouped by high/low V̇O2max. (D) Athletes grouped by high/low PP. Black: phosphagen system, grey: glycolytic system, white: aerobic system. Values are expressed as means of each energy system (kJ). * significant differences in energy expenditure of various systems between groups. H-V̇O2max/L-PP–High V̇O2max and low peak power L-V̇O2max/H-PP–Low V̇O2max and high peak power H-V̇O2max/H-PP–High V̇O2max and high peak power L-V̇O2max/L-PP–LowV̇O2max and low peak power.
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