Anaerobic Capacity

Original Editor - User Name Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Aragya Khadka, Manisha Shrestha, Kim Jackson and Kapil Narale

Anaerobic Capacity

Anaerobic capacity is defined as the maximal amount of adenosine triphosphate resynthesized via anaerobic metabolism (by the whole organism) during a specific mode of short-duration maximal anaerobic exercise.

Anaerobic capacity and Anaerobic power outputs are 2 primary measures which are vital factors in sports which demand short-duration maximal efforts.

Energy Systems

The body has three primary ways of creating energy ie ATP (the immediately available source of energy for all cellular metabolism including muscle contraction) These physiological pathways are called energy systems.

1. Alactic Anaerobic system (short duration energy – 10 seconds)
2. Lactic Anaerobic Systems (medium short duration energy – 60-90 seconds)
3. Aerobic System (long term energy from oxygen breakdown- hours)

• Cells can store only limited amount of ATP, therefore ATP must be constantly generated to provide needed energy for all cellular metabolism.
• The anaerobic energy system produces significantly less ATP than its aerobic counterpart and leads to the build-up of lactic acid.

Anaerobic Metabolism:

Many sports eg.100 metre race, involve quick bursts of speed at high intensities. An athlete's ability to quickly utilize and produce energy determines their perfomance. ATP is produced by the breakdown of glucose and glycogen( the storage form of glucose). The muscular stores of ATP is very limited and gets depleted within a seconds after a activity. Normally anaerobic system works from the second of start of exercise till 2 minutes. As exercises progresses past 2 minutes greater demands are placed on the long term energy system of aerobic metabolism.

Training for improved Anaerobic Capacity: see Anaerobic Exercise