The anticipatory regulation of performance: the physiological basis for pacing strategies and the development of a perception-based model for exercise performance
Top Cited Papers
- 17 February 2009
- journal article
- review article
- Published by BMJ in British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Vol. 43 (6), 392-400
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2008.050799
Abstract
During self-paced exercise, the exercise work rate is regulated by the brain based on the integration of numerous signals from various physiological systems. It has been proposed that the brain regulates the degree of muscle activation and thus exercise intensity specifically to prevent harmful physiological disturbances. It is presently proposed how the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is generated as a result of the numerous afferent signals during exercise and serves as a mediator of any subsequent alterations in skeletal muscle activation levels and exercise intensity. A conceptual model for how the RPE mediates feedforward, anticipatory regulation of exercise performance is proposed, and this model is applied to previously described research studies of exercise in various conditions, including heat, hypoxia and reduced energy substrate availability. Finally, the application of this model to recent novel studies that altered pacing strategies and performance is described utilising an RPE clamp design, central nervous system drugs and the provision of inaccurate duration or distance feedback to exercising athletes.Keywords
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Hyperoxia improves 20 km cycling time trial performance by increasing muscle activation levels while perceived exertion stays the sameEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology, 2007
- Heat induced fatigue and changes of the EEG is not related to reduced perfusion of the brain during prolonged exercise in humansJournal of Thermal Biology, 2004
- Impaired exercise performance in the heat is associated with an anticipatory reduction in skeletal muscle recruitmentPflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology, 2004
- Exercise starts and ends in the brainEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology, 2003
- EMG frequency content changes with increasing force and during fatigue in the quadriceps femoris muscle of men and womenJournal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 2002
- Brain activity and fatigue during prolonged exercise in the heatPflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology, 2001
- Advantages of smaller body mass during distance running in warm, humid environmentsPflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology, 2000
- Effects of heat stress on physiological responses and exercise performance in elite cyclistsJournal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2000
- Effects of oxygen fraction in inspired air on force production and electromyogram activity during ergometer rowingEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology, 1997
- Attenuation of the cutaneous blood flow response during combined exercise and heat stressEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology, 1994