Oxygen Debt & Anaerobic Exercise (OCR GCSE Physical Education): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
Oxygen Debt & Anaerobic Exercise
Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC)
infoNote
EPOC is the additional amount of oxygen consumed after anaerobic exercise. Sometimes EPOC is referred to as oxygen debt
EPOC
- Refers to the amount of oxygen needed to recover after exercise
- Enables lactic acid to be converted to glucose, carbon dioxide and water
- Explains why we breathe deeply and quickly after vigorous exercise
Analysing EPOC
Explanation
- The resting requirement identifies how much oxygen is required at rest
- When we start to exercise the demand for oxygen increases. it takes time to get the oxygen to the working muscles, not all the oxygen can be provided (anaerobic) we get an O₂ deficit
- When we stop exercising the demand for oxygen remains higher (to pay back the deficit) this is EPOC