A thermodynamics-based mechanism for the slow component of oxygen uptake kinetics during high power exercise

Abstract

The profile of human oxygen consumption during high power exercise has captivated exercise physiologists for decades and the mechanism behind the slow component of this profile is still unclear [1-4]. The present study models this component from a thermodynamics perspective that considers the work associated with gas pressure, volume and temperature changes for the glucose-based equation of respiration. Model slow component curves closely match clinically measured curves [2,4,7] in shape and scale. Existing proposed mechanisms for the slow component are generally more qualitative or physiological in nature. Thus, the presented model may represent a significant contributing mechanism towards the slow component.