A proposed test to determine physical working capacity at pain intensity threshold (PWC).

PURPOSE

This study aimed to establish a new threshold parameter called the physical working capacity at pain intensity threshold (PWC) using a pain intensity scale and mathematical methods similar to those used to develop the physical working capacity at oxygen consumption threshold (PWC) and physical working capacity at heart rate threshold (PWC). The study had two objectives: (i) to examine the relationship between PWC and traditional PWC measures and (ii) to explore the physiological mechanisms underlying the relationship between pain perception and capacity thresholds.

METHODS

Fourteen male volunteers (age 21 ± 2 years, height 176 ± 6 cm, weight 76 ± 9 kg, VO 37.8 ± 7.8 ml/kg/min) underwent an incremental exhaustion test and four 8-min randomly ordered work bouts on different days at 70-100% peak power output (119-320 W) to establish their PWC, PWC and PWC. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests and a zero-order correlation matrix were used to analyze these thresholds.

RESULTS

PWC significantly correlated with PWC (r = 0.88, P < 0.001), PWC (r = 0.84, P < 0.001), and gas exchange threshold (GET) (r = 0.7, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

The model for estimating PWC and PWC can be applied to determine the PWC. By examining how PWC aligns with, differs from, or complements existing PWC threshold measures, researchers may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that govern endurance performance.