Competition between desired competitive result, tolerable homeostatic disturbance, and psychophysiological interpretation determines pacing strategy
Authors
Carl Foster, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Jos J. de Koning, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.Follow
Florentina J. Hettinga, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne,United Kingdom.
Renato Barroso, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP,Brazil.
Daniel Boullosa, Universidad de León, León,Spain.Follow
Arturo Casado, Rey Juan Carlos University, Mostoles,Spain.Follow
Cristina Cortis, University of Cassino & Lazio Meridionale, Cassino,Italy.
Andrea Fusco, University of Cassino & Lazio Meridionale, Cassino,Italy.
Halle Gregorich, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Salvador Jaime, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Andrew M. Jones, University of Exeter, Exeter,United Kingdom.
Katherine R. Malterer, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Robert Pettitt, Force Science Ltd, Salt Lake City, UT,USA.
John P. Porcari, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Cassie Pratt, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Patrick Reinschmidt, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Phillip Skiba, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Annabel Splinter, Vrije Universiteit-Amsterdam, Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
Alan St Clair Gibson, University of Hull, Hull,United Kingdom.
Jacob St Mary, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Christian Thiel, Hochschule für Gesundheit, Bochum,Germany.
Kate Uithoven, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI,USA.
Joyce van Tunen, Vrije Universiteit-Amsterdam, Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
Recommended Citation
Foster C, de Koning JJ, Hettinga FJ, et al. Competition Between Desired Competitive Result, Tolerable Homeostatic Disturbance, and Psychophysiological Interpretation Determines Pacing Strategy. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2023;18(4):335-346. Published 2023 Feb 27. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2022-0171
Abstract
Scientific interest in pacing goes back >100 years. Contemporary interest, both as a feature of athletic competition and as a window into understanding fatigue, goes back >30 years. Pacing represents the pattern of energy use designed to produce a competitive result while managing fatigue of different origins. Pacing has been studied both against the clock and during head-to-head competition. Several models have been used to explain pacing, including the teleoanticipation model, the central governor model, the anticipatory-feedback-rating of perceived exertion model, the concept of a learned template, the affordance concept, the integrative governor theory, and as an explanation for "falling behind." Early studies, mostly using time-trial exercise, focused on the need to manage homeostatic disturbance. More recent studies, based on head-to-head competition, have focused on an improved understanding of how psychophysiology, beyond the gestalt concept of rating of perceived exertion, can be understood as a mediator of pacing and as an explanation for falling behind. More recent approaches to pacing have focused on the elements of decision making during sport and have expanded the role of psychophysiological responses including sensory-discriminatory, affective-motivational, and cognitive-evaluative dimensions. These approaches have expanded the understanding of variations in pacing, particularly during head-to-head competition.
Affiliations
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital