Research

Differences in oxygen uptake but equivalent energy expenditure between a brief bout of cycling and running

Christopher B Scott , Nathanael D Littlefield , Jeffrey D Chason , Michael P Bunker and Elizabeth M Asselin

University of Southern Maine, Department of Sports Medicine, 37 College Ave. Gorham, ME 04038, USA

author email corresponding author email

Nutrition & Metabolism 2006, 3:1doi:10.1186/1743-7075-3-1

Published:	3 January 2006

Abstract

Background

We examined aerobic and anaerobic exercise energy expenditure and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) between a 250 Watt, 1-minute bout of cycling and uphill treadmill running.

Methods

Fourteen active to well-trained subjects volunteered for the investigation (VO₂ max: 57.0 ± 12.9 ml·kg·min^-1 cycle; 59.3 ± 13.7 ml·kg·min^-1 run; p = 0.44). Anaerobic energy expenditure was estimated from △blood lactate. Statistical analysis was completed using a paired t-test (mean ± SD).

Results

Perceived exertion did not differ between exercise bouts (14.0 ± 2.3 cycle; 13.2 ± 2.1 run; p = 0.29). Exercise oxygen uptake was significantly greater for running (41.4 ± 6.9 kJ) compared to cycling (31.7 ± 7.7 kJ) (p = 0.0001). EPOC was not different between cycling and running (p = 0.21) so that exercise oxygen uptake + EPOC was greater for running (103.0 ± 13.5 kJ) as compared to cycling (85.4 ± 20.2 kJ; p = 0.008). Anaerobic energy expenditure was significantly greater for cycling (32.7 ± 8.9 kJ) versus running (22.5 ± 11.1 kJ) (p = 0.009). Aerobic + anaerobic exercise energy expenditure (cycle 64.3 ± 12.2 kJ; run 63.9 ± 10.1 kJ) (p = 0.90) and total energy expenditure (including EPOC; cycle 118.0 ± 21.8 kJ; run 125.4 ± 19.1 kJ; p = 0.36) were similar for cycling and running.

Conclusion

Oxygen-only measures reveal discrepancy in energy expenditure between cycling and uphill running. Measurements of exercise oxygen uptake, △blood lactate and a modified EPOC promote the hypothesis of a similarity in exercise and total energy expenditure between 1-minute work-equivalent bouts of cycling and uphill running.