Skip to main content

EPOC

Meaning

EPOC is the clinical acronym for Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption, a measurable physiological phenomenon representing the elevated rate of oxygen intake following strenuous physical activity, which is necessary to restore the body to its pre-exercise, resting metabolic state. This metabolic expenditure is crucial for replenishing ATP stores, clearing lactate, re-oxygenating muscle tissue, and supporting the increased hormonal and thermoregulatory activity triggered by intense exercise. In the context of hormonal health, the magnitude and duration of EPOC are valuable indicators of an individual’s metabolic flexibility and their ability to efficiently utilize fat as a post-exercise fuel source, which is often mediated by catecholamine and growth hormone signaling.