Critical Power (Monod)

Critical power (CP) is the highest power output that can be sustained indefinitely without fatigue, representing the boundary between sustainable and unsustainable exercise. Introduced by Henry Monod and Scherrer in 1965, the critical power model describes the hyperbolic relationship between power output and time-to-exhaustion. The model partitions work capacity into two components: critical power (the aerobic ceiling) and anaerobic work capacity (the maximal work that can be performed above critical power before depletion). This framework is widely used in exercise physiology, sports science, and occupational biomechanics.