Anaerobic Energy/Work Supply in Endurance Activities – The Importance and Effect of Computational Method

  • 6,957

    Total downloads

  • 32k

    Total views and downloads

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

Physiologically, performance in short-duration and longer duration endurance events is usually described by the total energy provision, i.e., the sum of aerobic and anaerobic energy supply, and the gross mechanical efficiency or the energy cost of movement. Due to the limited capacity of the anaerobic energy supply, the relative anaerobic contribution decreases with exercise duration. Nevertheless, also in endurance events over a relatively long duration, anaerobic energy provision is crucial for breakaways and final end-spurts as well as for optimizing pacing strategies over undulating terrain – likely making anaerobic capacity/anaerobic power more important to performance than initially thought. While aerobic energy provision during exercise can be quantified by using respiratory measures of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production, quantification of the anaerobic energy provision is more complicated, and several different methods have been used.

Currently, there is a clear mismatch between the total number of studies that have quantified anaerobic capacity during whole-body exercise by using one method and related it to performance vs. the amount of research that has aimed to enhance the methodological understanding by comparing results generated by different computational methods. Potential explanations for why the methodological research is limited could be the lack of a gold standard procedure for evaluating the accuracy of different methods of estimating anaerobic capacity and the substantial time investment that comes with multiple laboratory sessions. To date, there are several different methods available for estimating the anaerobic capacity, or anaerobic work capacity, during endurance activities such as running, cycling, rowing, roller-skiing, etc. Here, the most common approaches are the maximal accumulated oxygen deficit method (MAOD), the GE method, and the critical power (or critical speed) concept. We believe it is time for a more rigorous methodological evaluation of different methodological concepts for quantifying anaerobic capacity. This, because such information would facilitate the decision-making process when designing test-protocols as well as to enhance the overall quality of generated test results. In addition, research addressing the link between anaerobic energy provision, pacing strategies, and its impact on exercise performance is welcomed.

In this Research Topic, we ask for papers including at least one common measure of anaerobic energy supply (or anaerobic work) during exercise modalities lasting longer than approximately two minutes. We welcome original research, narrative reviews, systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis, commentaries, and perspectives. Preferably, on some of the topics that are listed below:
• The agreement between different methods of estimating anaerobic capacity
• The impact of different submaximal test protocols on the anaerobic capacity measures
• The test-to-test reliability of anaerobic capacity determined with different methods
• The link between pacing and endurance performance in relation to anaerobic energy provision
• The contribution from anaerobic and aerobic energy sources during highly intermittent endurance exercise, i.e., supramaximal exercise that is interspersed with submaximal exercise
• The effect of glycogen availability on anaerobic capacity
• The effect of supramaximal exercise on gross efficiency, or movement economy, and its impact on the choice of methodological concept for determining anaerobic capacity

All submitted papers should include a thorough methodological discussion.

Research Topic Research topic image

Keywords: critical power/speed, gross efficiency, maximal accumulated oxygen deficit method, performance testing, time trial

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.