Work

Methods modulate: protocol choice shapes apparent sex differences in the determination of exercise intensity

Year: 2026

Type: article

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.

Source: American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology

DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00266.2025

Authors: Benedikt Meixner, Marcelle Schaffarczyk, Billy Sperlich

Institutions: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, University of Würzburg

Language: English

Topic: Cardiovascular and exercise physiology

Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W7123358416

FWCI: 18.93

Cites: 56

Cited by: 2

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