Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the present study was to test the hypotheses that a greater oxidative capacity in children results in a lower phosphocreatine (PCr) depletion, a faster PCr resynthesis and a lower muscle acidification during high-intensity intermittent exercise compared to adults.
Methods
Sixteen children (9.4 ± 0.5 years) and 16 adults (26.1 ± 0.3 years) completed a protocol consisting of a dynamic plantar flexion (10 bouts of 30-s exercise at 25 % of one repetition maximum separated by 20-s recovery), followed by 10 min of passive recovery. Changes of PCr, ATP, inorganic phosphate, and phosphomonoesters were measured by means of 31Phosphorous-magnetic resonance spectroscopy during and post-exercise.
Results
Average PCr (percentage of [PCr] at initial rest (%[PCr]i)) at the end of the exercise (adults 17 ± 12 %[PCr]i, children 38 ± 17 %[PCr]i, P < 0.01) and recovery periods (adults 37 ± 14 %[PCr]i, children 57 ± 17 %[PCr]i, P < 0.01) was significantly lower in adults compared to children, induced by a stronger PCr decrease during the first exercise interval (adults −73 ± 10 %[PCr]i, children −55 ± 15 %[PCr]i, P < 0.01). End-exercise pH was significantly higher in children compared to adults (children 6.90 + 0.20, −0.14; adults 6.67 + 0.23, −0.15, P < 0.05).
Conclusions
From our results we suggest relatively higher rates of oxidative ATP formation in children’s muscle for covering the ATP demand of high-intensity intermittent exercise compared to adults, enabling children to begin each exercise interval with significantly higher PCr concentrations and leading to an overall lower muscle acidification.
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Abbreviations
- FTI:
-
Force–time integral
- MR:
-
Magnetic resonance
- pH:
-
Intracellular pH
- Pi :
-
Inorganic phosphate
- PCr:
-
Phosphocreatine
- PP:
-
Peak power output
- PME:
-
Phosphomonoesters
- ROM:
-
Range of motion
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- τ :
-
Time constant
- W:
-
Watts
- WAnT:
-
Wingate anaerobic test
- W/kg mm:
-
Watts per kilogram muscle mass
- 1RM:
-
One repetition maximum
- 31P-MRS:
-
31Phosphorous-magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- %[PCri]:
-
Percent of PCr at initial rest
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Kappenstein, J., Ferrauti, A., Runkel, B. et al. Changes in phosphocreatine concentration of skeletal muscle during high-intensity intermittent exercise in children and adults. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 2769–2779 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2712-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2712-x