T. R. Thomas’s research while affiliated with University of Missouri and other places

The purpose of the study was to compare the %VO2max versus %HRmax regression equations developed from data collected during incremental work on six exercise modes: treadmill (T), cycle (C), skier (S), shuffle skier (SS), stepper (ST), and rower (R). Ten active males were habituated to all modes and then performed an incremental test to maximum on each mode. Mode order was assigned by Latin square sequences and the tests were separated by at least 72 h. VO2 and HR were recorded at each increment. Regression analyses were performed using SAS-GLM. Regressions for T, S, SS, and ST were not significantly different. C had a lower intercept and higher slope, while R had a higher intercept and lower slope than the other exercise modes. These results suggest that weight bearing exercise modes have similar %VO2max-%HRmax regressions. However, weight supported and arm exercise modes appear to have different regressions.

The resting metabolic rate (RMR) following recovery from level jogging, which includes an eccentric component, was hypothesized to be greater and remain elevated longer than following concentric cycling due to repair of exercise-induced muscle damage. Nine males participated in both a jogging and cycling protocol. RMR measurements were determined by indirect calorimetry before and on the seven mornings following three consecutive days of 45-min exercise sessions performed at equal energy expenditures. Daily protein intake and urinary nitrogen (N) output were measured throughout both protocols. No differences were observed in the resting oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, or heart rate between baseline measurements and from any of the postexercise days following the third exercise bout. Urinary N and the estimated N balance during postexercise also did not change from baseline values over time or mode x time. However, the overall estimated N balance for the jogging protocol was less positive than for the cycling protocol (p < 0.05). Muscular soreness was greater (p < 0.05) and lasted longer from the jogging protocol. Although, muscle damage may have been more severe in the jogging protocol, RMR and N balance were not different between the two exercise modes.

Investigations on resting and recovery metabolism have used both preexercise and separate control-day measurements as a baseline for comparisons. The purpose of this study was to compare preexercise resting data with nonexercise control-day resting data. Seven active men aged 25 +/- 5 y and weighing 83.2 +/- 15.4 kg followed prescribed dietary (12-h fast) and activity (48-h abstinence) preparatory protocols and were scheduled to exercise for 60 min on three separate occasions. A fourth session involved no exercise (control) and included an extended rest period. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and heart rate measured in a semirecumbent position were not significantly different among preexercise and control conditions. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) increased as the control rest was extended to 120 min. Reliabilities for both RMR and RER were initially high but were decreased at the end of the extended rest. These results suggest that preexercise RMR data can be used as a baseline for comparison purposes. In addition, prolonging the rest period does not appear to improve the RMR or RER values.