Methods modulate: protocol choice shapes apparent sex differences in the determination of exercise intensity
Abstract
Method matters when comparing men and women in exercise physiology. In trained cyclists, we show that apparent female-male differences in exercise intensity at lactate and ventilatory thresholds depend on how “maximum” is defined (V̇o 2max vs. peak power output) and the protocol used (ramp vs. step). Some sex effects appeared only under specific methodological choices, highlighting that differences often attributed to biology may, in fact, be artifacts of test design.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Sports Performance and Training
Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Physical Activity and Health
Publication details
- Journal / source
- American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Volume
- 330
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- R174–R182
- Publication date
- 12 January 2026
- Language
- EN