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Neurophysiological determinants of theoretical concepts and mechanisms involved in pacing.

PMID 23456493 (2013): pacing — Time-trial performance (study note for endurance athletes).

Last updated/Feb 23, 2026, 11:13 PM

Study note • PMID 23456493

Neurophysiological determinants of theoretical concepts and mechanisms involved in pacing.

Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2013 • DOI 10.1007/s40279-013-0030-4
Evidence C60/100
Action 2: Consider

Worth trying if it fits your goal and context.

ELI5

In plain language

Fatigue during prolonged exercise is often described as an acute impairment of exercise performance that leads to an inability to produce or maintain a desired power output. (review; athletes).

In this review, the abstract is mixed or unclear for Time-trial performance. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.

Takeaways

What the abstract suggests

  • Study question: Fatigue during prolonged exercise is often described as an acute impairment of exercise performance that leads to an inability to produce or maintain a desired power output.
  • In this review, the abstract is mixed or unclear for Time-trial performance.
  • Population: athletes.
  • Protocol cues: abstract may omit dose/timing; use the full paper to replicate accurately.

Protocol

Protocol (as reported)

  • Intervention/exposure: pacing.
  • Dose/time/duration: abstract doesn’t include enough detail; use the full paper’s methods section.
  • Outcomes: Time-trial performance.
  • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.

Fit

Who it helps, and who should skip it

Who it helps

  • Athletes similar to the study population (athletes) working on pacing.
  • Athletes who can measure Time-trial performance with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.

Who should skip

  • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
  • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.

Methods

What the study actually did

  • Design: review (placebo-controlled).
  • Population: athletes.
  • Outcomes measured: Time-trial performance.
  • Source: PubMed PMID 23456493 (2013) — Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.).

Results excerpt

What the abstract reports

The distribution of the power output reveals that after dopamine reuptake inhibition, subjects are able to maintain a higher power output compared with placebo.

Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.

Limits

Limitations & bias

  • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
  • Reviews and consensus statements mix protocols and populations; recommendations may not match your exact constraints.
  • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
  • This is performance information, not medical advice.

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Sources