HMS, BM 2014 HSC 27

ATP-PCr system and Glycolytic (Lactic Acid) system

Similarities:

• Both systems operate without oxygen during anaerobic metabolism processes.
• Both provide energy for high-intensity, short-duration explosive activities.
• Both systems work together during power-based movements like sprinting.
• Both use stored energy sources available within muscle tissue.
• Both produce ATP for immediate muscular contraction requirements.

Differences:

• ATP-PCr uses stored phosphocreatine whilst glycolytic system uses muscle glycogen and glucose.
• ATP-PCr operates for 10-15 seconds maximum, glycolytic system functions 15 seconds to 2 minutes.
• ATP-PCr produces ATP most rapidly but glycolytic system has greater total capacity.
• ATP-PCr fatigues when phosphocreatine stores deplete, glycolytic fatigues from lactate accumulation.
• ATP-PCr recovers completely in 2-3 minutes, glycolytic requires longer recovery periods.
• ATP-PCr produces no fatiguing by-products, glycolytic creates lactate causing muscle burn.

Summary:

• ATP-PCr provides immediate explosive power whilst glycolytic sustains high-intensity efforts for longer periods.