Anaerobic Energy
Systems
By: Stacey Perkins, Catherine Gordon, Kaitlyn
Souter, Ben O’Brien
Lab Overview
 Look at definitions and types of anaerobic
energy systems
 Conduct Wingate Test
 Collect and Analyse results
 Re-group for questions and summary
 IMPORTANT: Please be diligent and
respond quickly to instructions
Anaerobic Energy
Systems
 Anaerobic energy system = energy system
within the body that does not require the use of
oxygen
 It consists of the ATP-PC system and the Lactic
Acid/Anaerobic Glycolysis system
 All three energy pathways (ATP-PC, Lactic
Acid & Aerobic energy systems) operate at any
one time and can overlap. The contribution of
each varies depending on the duration and
intensity of the activity
Anaerobic Energy
Systems
ATP-PC SYSTEM
 Provides a bulk of ATP required during powerful
and explosive efforts
(Eg: take off in high jump, sprint position in netball)
 Linked with several fitness components
(Eg: muscular strength, anaerobic power, speed)
 Provides up to 10 seconds of energy for maximal
effort
 The system relies on muscle stores of both ATP
and PC (phospho-creatine)
Anaerobic Energy
Systems
LACTIC ACID SYSTEM
 Provides bulk of ATP production during high
intensity, sub-maximal efforts.
 Operates as a dominant supply of ATP from
around 15-60 seconds of maximal effort
 Closely linked with several fitness components
(Eg: anaerobic power, speed and muscular
power)
 Classic example: 400m run
Definitions
 SPEED: Refers either to
the ability to perform a
movement quickly or to
see how fast a
movement is performed.
 POWER: The rate of
performing work. The
product of force and
velocity. Power = force x
distance/time.
Definitions
 WORK: Physical work or
effort as opposed to rest
 VELOCITY: Velocity =
distance/time. How fast
an object is moving at
any one time over a
given distance with
regard to direction. Two
types: Linear and
Angular.
Post Exercise Oxygen
Consumption (EPOC)
 Who here plays a sport? What?
 After a short sprint/tackle what is your
body doing? (in relation to your breathing
and pulse)
 Is it possible to not have an increased
heart rate and heavy breathing after
intense exercise? Why?
Post Exercise Oxygen
Consumption (EPOC)
 When aerobic exercise begins, the oxygen
transport system does not immediately supply
the needed quantity of oxygen to the active
muscles because oxygen consumption
requires several minutes to reach steady state.
 Because oxygen needs and oxygen supply
differs during the transition from rest to
exercise, the body incurs an oxygen deficit.
(eg: getting tired during warm up)
Post Exercise Oxygen
Consumption (EPOC)
 The oxygen deficit = the difference between
the oxygen required for a given exercise
intensity and the actual oxygen consumption.
 Excess Postexercise Oxygen Consumption
(Oxygen debt) = the elevated levels of oxygen
consumption during the initial minutes of
recovery, which exceed the oxygen usually
required at rest.
Post Exercise Oxygen
Consumption (EPOC)
Sources of Fatigue





-
PCr depletion
Muscle glycogen depletion
Neuromuscular - nerve impulses
CNS - muscular recruitment
Metabolic by-products
Lactate
Hydrogen Ions – low ph
Buffers - bicarbonate
Metabolic By-Product
Removal
LACTIC ACID:
 Myth – that lactic acid is responsible for fatigue
 Truth – lactic acid accumulates within the muscle fibre only during
relatively brief, highly intense muscular effort.
 Truth – fatigue is generally caused by inadequate energy supply
 Lactate – Removed by Gluconeogenesis (conversion
of glucose) through Cori cycle (energy consuming) or
the Oxidation to pyruvate which fuels the citric acid
cycle (energy producing)
Metabolic By-Product
Removal
HYDROGEN IONS
 Hydrogen Ions (pH) – Removed by
buffers such as bicarbonate
 pH is a major limiter of performance and
the primary cause of fatigue during
maximal and all-out exercise
Wingate Test
 Conduct the Wingate
Test
 All participants to
prepare for testing
 Observers prepare to
record results
Blood Lactate
 Why is blood lactate increased at post
test?
 Why does blood lactate continue to
increase at follow up?
 What are some gender differences in
lactate?
Application of Results


Visit all four groups
Peak Anaerobic Power (PP)
Relative Anaerobic Power (RPP)
Anaerobic Capacity (AC)
Anaerobic Fatigue (AF)
Apply results from the Wingate test to
above mentioned methods
Questions?
 Does the term Anaerobic Capacity
actually indicate the total amount of work
done by the anaerobic systems?
Why/why not?
 What are the causes of Anaerobic fatigue
in this test?
Questions?
After the test has finished, how does the
body get rid of lactic acid?
 Exertion levels determine the rate of
lactic acid removal
 An active recovery provides best
conditions with exertion levels and heart
rate lower than that at the onset of blood
lactate accumulation.
Questions?
 The bulk of lactic acid is converted back
into pyruvic acid then oxidised inside the
mitochondria via the citric acid cycle
(creating new ATP supplies)
 The body also deals with lactic acid
through respiration, perspiration and
excretion.
Conclusion
 Anaerobic energy system = energy system within the
body that does not require the use of oxygen
 There are two systems = ATP-PC system (lasts from 810 seconds) & LACTIC ACID system (operates from
15-60 seconds)
 Excess Postexercise Oxygen Consumption (Oxygen
debt) = the elevated levels of oxygen consumption
during the initial minutes of recovery, which exceed the
oxygen usually required at rest.
Conclusion
 There are many sources of fatigue that
can influence performance
 The Metabolic by-products need to be
removed from the system to enable the
body to recover effectively
 Have a good day!!