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Measurement Techniques for Anaerobic Performance

February 26, 2020

Lab Group:
Lindzi Johansmeyer (Methods)
Madison Michalski (Introduction)
Ashka Sevak (Discussion)
Abby Viola (Results)
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Introduction: Madison Michalski

To perform our daily activities and just to move in general our bodies need energy to

do so. The energy within our body is called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). To produce this

energy our bodies, have three metabolic pathways we depend upon, the ATP-PCR system,

glycolytic system, and oxidative system. All three pathways are used but depending on the

intensity, duration and need for ATP during exercise, will determine which one is dominant

in the act.

The ATP-PCr system is the first system to produce ATP and is one of the simplest

pathways used in our bodies. This system is an anaerobic way of producing ATP and is

called substrate-level metabolism, which is the direct synthesis of ATP to ADP (adenosine

diphosphate) during a single reaction (Cola 2020). This system stores an energy called

phosphocreatine (PCr) that is eventually catalyzed into ATP. To do this there is an enzyme

called creatine kinase that catalyzes PCr releasing energy and breaking the phosphate

molecule from the creatine (Kenny 2015). This energy is now used to add the phosphate to

the ADP molecule, creating ATP. Negative feedback and rate-limiting factors play an

important role in regulating the amount of ATP our bodies make. The rate limiting factor in

this system is creatine kinase, it regulates the amount of ATP produced by using negative

feedback (Kenny 2015). When there is more than enough ATP being produced creatine

kinase will slow the production of ATP. But, if there is not enough ATP being produced and

there is a large quantity of ADP, the creatine kinase will push the reaction and produce more

ATP. That being said, this pathway is used during the first fifteen seconds of high intensity

exercises like vertical jump or 100-meter sprint, mostly explosive movements. The ATP-PCr
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system gives the ability to test quickness and power (Cola 2020). Beyond this system our

body moves into the glycolytic system.

The glycolytic system is an anaerobic system that takes place in the cytosol of the cell

to produce ATP. This system follows the ATP-PCr system and becomes dominant after

fifteen seconds of exercise and will stay dominant until two minutes of exercise. This system

acts on high intensity and short duration exercises like the 300-yard shuttle or swimming.

The process of the glycolytic system is a little more complicated than that of the ATP-PCr.

The glycolytic system involves glycolysis, the breakdown of glucose through glycolytic

enzymes (Kenny 2015). Our bodies get this glucose from carbohydrates that is turned into

glycogen that then is stored in the liver and skeletal muscle and then broken down through

glycogenolysis to be turned into glucose-6-phosphate, which starts the glycolytic system. If

the pathway starts with glucose then it will need an ATP to turn it into glucose-6-phosphate

called the hexokinase reaction, but if there is no glycogen then there is no need to use the

ATP. Once there is glucose-6-phosphate the pathway begins and it moves down the pathway

and splits to produce two pyruvate. When the glucose goes through glycolysis it produces

two ATP molecules but, through glycogenolysis there are three ATP molecules being made.

There is a rate limiting enzyme called phosphofructokinase within this system that relies on

the amount of ATP present to either speed up or slow down the pathway. It is like a light

switch, if there is a low amount of ATP phosphofructokinase will ‘turn on’ or speed up the

pathway to produce more. If there is a plentiful amount of ATP present then

phosphofructokinase will ‘turn off’ slowing down the pathway to produce less ATP. The

two pyruvates that are produced have two ways they can go. Without oxygen they will be

converted into lactic acid due to the increase in hydrogen ions within the cell environment
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(Cola 2020). With oxygen available, they will be transferred into the last pathway, the

oxidative system.

The oxidative system is within the mitochondria of the cell meaning that it is an

aerobic pathway, has oxygen. The start of the oxidative system comes from the two

pyruvates that came from the glycolytic system. These pyruvates must be converted into

acetyl-CoA through the presence of oxygen, so that the Krebs Cycle can begin. Once there is

two acetyl-CoA the Krebs cycle will cycle twice and produce two ATP molecules within

those two cycles. In these two cycles it produces six NADH and two FADH, which carry the

excess hydrogen ions and brings them to the electron transport chain, if these hydrogen ions

aren’t collected metabolic acidosis will occur (Cola 2020). Next, the electron transport chain

takes the NADH and FADH molecules to create ATP, one molecule of NADH equals two

and half ATP and for every one molecule of FADH one and half ATP is made (Cola 2020).

The hydrogen ions that were carried to the electron transport chain then combine with

oxygen to form more ATP and water. Within this system the net total of ATP made is 32-33

ATP (Cola 2020). Until oxygen is not present this system will continue to run. With that

being said we use this system during low intensity long duration exercises that last longer

than two minutes, like a 12-minute run or marathon.

All three pathways were experienced during this lab by undergoing different exercises

like the vertical jump test, 300-yard shuttle run, and a 12-minute run. From what is discussed

above, explosive movements and maximum effort in a short duration make it to believe the

ATP-PCr system produced the energy needed for the vertical jump. When experiencing the

300-meter shuttle it would be thought that the glycolytic system will jump in after fifteen

seconds of the run to provide energy due to the short duration and and high intensity of the
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exercise. Finally, when doing the 12-minute run it could be said that the oxidative system

was in play because it may provide a large amount of energy for this exercise due to it being

low intensity and long duration. From the information provided it can be hypothesized that

the ATP-PCr system can be used for explosive exercises, glycolytic system can be used for

high intensity short duration exercises, and oxidative system can be used for low intensity

long duration exercises.

Methods: Lindzi Johansmeyer

For the vertical jump test, the subject used the Vetec. The subjects reach height was

determined by standing under the Vetec. The Vertec was adjusted to the individual’s

fingertips. With the subject’s feet grounded, they reach up and displace the highest horizontal

vein possible. Once the height in inches was recorded for the subject’s reach height, the

Vetec was reset. The subject will start in a standing position under the Vetec, drop into a

squat, and immediately jump as high as possible. The individual will try to displace as many

horizontal veins as possible. The vertical displacement will be recorded. The subject will

perform the vertical jump for 2 trials.

For the 300 yd shuttle, a stopwatch and flat surface is needed. There are two line

judges standing at each end of the track. The subject begins behind the starting line. The

subject will sprint to the end line that is 25 yards away. After making contact with the end

line, the subject will immediately sprint back to the starting line making contact with it and

repeat the cycle. This will occur for 6 rounds totaling 300 yards with the subject going as fast

as possible. Once completed, the subject’s time is recorded to the nearest 0.1 second.
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For the 12-minute run, a treadmill is used. The subject will run on the treadmill (with

no incline) for a total of 12 minutes. After this time, the distance will be recorded.

Results: The following results are based on Abby Viola’s performance.

Jump 1.
Standing Reach Jump Height Vertical Jump Average Power
Height (in.) (in.) Displacement Generated
(m.) (Watts)

Attempt 1 82 in. 99 in. 0.4318 m 860.8294

Table 1 shows attempt 1 of the vertical jump. The average power output of attempt one is
found using the Lewis Formula.

Jump 2.
Standing Reach Jump Height Vertical Jump Average Power
Height (in.) (in.) Displacement Generated
(m.) (Watts)

Attempt 2 82 in. 100 in. 0.4572 m 885.8513

Table 2 shows attempt 2 of the vertical jumps. The average power output of attempt one is
found using the Lewis Formula.

Jump 1 Calculations of Vertical Jump Displacement:

Jump Height (in.) - Standing Reaching Height (in.) = Vertical Jump Displacement (in.) → (m)

99in. - 82in. = 17 inches → 0.4318m

Jump 1 Calculations of Average Power Generated:

Average Power (watts) = √ 4.9 x body mass (kg.) x √ jump-reach score (m.) x 9.81

Average Power (watts) = (square root of 4.9) x 60.3278kg. x (square root of 0.4318m.) x 9.81
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Average Power (watts) = 2.2136 x 60.3278 x 0.6571 x 9.81

Average Power = 860.8294 watts

Jump 2 Calculations of Vertical Jump Displacement:

Jump Height (in.) - Standing Reaching Height (in.) = Vertical Jump Displacement (in.) → (m)

100in. - 82in. = 18 inches → 0.4572m

Jump 2 Calculations of Average Power Generated:

Average Power (watts) = √ 4.9 x body mass (kg.) x √ jump-reach score (m.) x 9.81

Average Power (watts) = (square root of 4.9) x 60.3278kg. x (square root of 0.4572m.) x 9.81

Average Power (watts) = 2.2136 x 60.3278 x 0.6762 x 9.81

Average Power = 885.8513 watts

300-yard Shuttle (min/sec) 12 Minute Run (distance in mi.)

01 min & 03 sec 1.50 mi.

The table above depicts the time and duration of two exercises performed during this lab.

Discussion: Ashka Sevak

The purpose of this study was to assess and determine the energy pathways used for

the three activities performed. Based on the findings of this study, the subject’s results

confirmed the hypothesis that, depending on the intensity and duration of each exercise, the

ATP-PCr system was used for the vertical jump test, the glycolytic system was used for the

300 yd shuttle and the oxidative system was used for the 12 minute run.
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The ATP-PCr pathway is used for exercises with high intensity and short duration,

especially for exercises and movements that are large and “explosive” on the body. In this

case, the vertical jump was an “explosive” movement on the body which required a burst of

energy from the breakdown of a single substrate for that particular activity. It also works

independently of oxygen, so the availability of oxygen was not taken into account for this

particular test. To reiterate, the ATP-PCr system is also called “substrate level metabolism,”

meaning that with the breakdown of one substrate, another substrate is built up. In this case,

the breakdown of a substrate being used for energy would cause the production of ATP, but

only for that short duration of time where the vertical jump was performed. The subject

performing the vertical jump had a jump height of 17 inches (0.4318 m) in attempt 1 and a

jump height of 18 inches (0.4572 m) in attempt 2, averaging her jump reach score to 17.5

inches. The vertical jump is a perfect example of an activity utilizing the ATP-PCr system

since it is a high intensity activity needing an immediate burst of ATP to displace the body

off the ground, but only for a short duration of about 5-7 seconds.

The glycolytic pathway is used for exercises with moderate intensity and duration.

Through the activities performed in this study, the utilization of the glycolytic pathway was

observed during the 300 yd shuttle. The subject completed the 300 yd shuttle with a time of 1

minute and 03 seconds. Upon completion of the 300 yd shuttle, the subject complained of

shortness of breath, rapid breaths and a burning sensation in the quads and calves. The

subject’s feedback led to the conclusion that the glycolytic pathway was the most active

during this activity. The glycolytic pathway operates anaerobically, or without the use of

oxygen, and kicks in when oxygen levels start to run low from at about 15 seconds from the

start of the exercise to about 2 minutes until completion of the exercise. In the glycolytic
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pathway, the lack of oxygen caused a build-up of H+ ions, which is the reason that the

subject responded the way that she did. Due to the unavailability of oxygen after 15 seconds

and the completion of the activity in under 2 minutes, it can be concluded that the glycolytic

system was the primary system active in producing a rapid source of energy for this

particular exercise.

The oxidative system is the final pathway that was examined in this study. The

oxidative system operates aerobically meaning that it can only operate when oxygen is

available. It is most active during activities of low intensity and long duration, such as a jog

on the treadmill.The availability of oxygen is crucial in producing significant amounts of

ATP in relation to the other two pathways described above. Being the most complex of the

three pathways, the oxidative system is broken up into the Krebs Cycle and the Electron

Transport Chain (ETC). The key component of the oxidative system is the ability of oxygen

to be the final acceptor of H+ ions, which are produced when oxygen levels are running low.

The subject performed a 12-minute run on the treadmill and ran a distance of 1.50 miles. The

intensity of this exercise was low, and the duration was longer in comparison to the other 2

activities performed through the course of this study. When asked how she felt after the run,

the subject responded that she felt slightly out of breath after the first minute of her run but

felt better throughout the rest of the activity and had no complaints about her legs burning

compared to the 300yd shuttle. Due to the availability of oxygen to accept the H+ ions, the

subject regained her breath and began to feel steadier without the burning sensations that she

felt in the 300 yd dash. Because of its ability to produce large amounts of energy over long

periods of time, it can be concluded that the oxidative system was the primary system active

during the 12-minute run.

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Conclusion:

The findings and results of this study conclude that each metabolic pathway was used

for it’s relative activity depending on the intensity and duration of that particular activity.

The ATP-PCr is efficient in producing ATP quickly for activities performed over a short

duration, but only produces enough energy for that short duration of activity. The glycolytic

pathway produces moderate amounts of ATP are a moderate rate for activities of medium

intensity and duration. The oxidative system is the most efficient in producing large amounts

of ATP but at a very slow rate, which is why it is most effective for activities of low intensity

and long duration. Although all the pathways are constantly running at the same time in the

body, one pathway over rules the other two, ultimately determining the amount of energy

needed to perform that activity to successful completion.

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References:

Burton, Anne, D., Stokes, Keith, & M, G. (2004, December 1). Physiological effects of

exercise. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/4/6/185/314696

Cola, J. L. (2020, February). Fuel for Exercise: Bioenergetics and Muscle Metabolism.

Chapter 2 Lecture. William Paterson University.

Kenney, W.L., Wilmore, J.H., Costill, D. L. (2015). Physiology of Sport and Exercise.

Champaign, IL: HUman Kinetics