VO2 Kinetics and Ventilatory Mechanisms: A Relationship to Decreased Tolerance Between Severe and Extreme Intensities

• Grant number: 25/01037-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Camila Coelho Greco
• Grantee: Rubens Correa Junior
• Supervisor: Bruno Grassi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/09303-0 - The Influence of Gas Exchange Mechanisms on Exercise Tolerance in the Severe and Extreme Intensity Domains, BP.MS

Abstract

As the exercise intensity and duration increase, the factors limiting tolerance capacity also vary. In the severe (SEV) and extreme (EXT) intensity domains, exercise is characterized by highly energetic, cardiorespiratory, and metabolic costs. Accordingly, these characteristics influence how long an individual can sustain such intensity. Recent evidence suggests that a highly developed aerobic metabolism can modulate the amplitude of intensity domains and impact the ability to tolerate these exercises. On the other hand, studies investigating the etiology of neuromuscular fatigue have revealed that this process alone does not explain the reduced tolerance as intensity is increased between the SEV and EXT domains. In this regard, little is known about how the gas exchange mechanism influences efficiency reduction in several physiological processes that determine exercise tolerance within these domains. Therefore, this research project aims to: Investigate the relationship between the increase in intensity and V¿O2 kinetics and ventilatory mechanisms efficiency during exercise and recovery after efforts in the SEV and EXT domains until exhaustion. A cross-sectional experiment will be conducted in Brazil with experienced cyclists, involving 9 to 10 visits to the laboratory. This research will evaluate variables associated with the efficiency of ventilatory mechanisms and VO2 Kinetics to exercises performed in the SEV and EXT domains. Given that, this internship abroad project presents a unique opportunity to collaborate with an international expert in exercise physiology, offering the chance to apply innovative data analysis techniques and acquire new methodologies that will enrich the research results and promote my academic development.