ACTIVE RECOVERY BETWEEN HIGH-INTENSITY EXERCISE BOUTS IMPROVES PERFORMANCE IN HOCKEY PLAYERS

Abstract

Background Active recovery (AR) compared to passive recovery (PR) between high-intensity exercise bouts increases total work achieved and promotes lactate clearance in hockey players. Previous studies applied AR via submaximal exercise sessions to reduce post-event fatigue. However, no study to date has applied AR between repeated supramaximal exercise bouts. Preliminary Data 6 sedentary subjects (4 male, 2 female) and 5 athletic subjects (3 male, 2 female) were tested to examine the effect of AR vs PR between consecutive 30-second supramaximal exercise bouts. Total work (joules) was higher in the athletic group than in the sedentary group (2871 vs. 1029; p < .02). Additionally, the data demonstrate a significant treatment effect of AR vs. PR (2127 vs. 1046; p < .02) as well as a significant interaction effect (p < .02). Thus AR, between supramaximal exercise bouts improves overall performance in normal subjects and athletes. Hypothesis AR between repetitive bouts of supramaximal activity in ice hockey players will result in greater performance as defined by total work achieved, and lactate clearance. Methods 3 amateur hockey players (3 male, mean age 26 ± 3 years, mean weight 83.5 ± 11.2 kg, mean VO2 max 45 ± 2.8 ml/O2/min) were tested. Each subject underwent three days of testing. Day 1 consisted of a baseline 30-second Wingate Power Test (WPT) on a Monark 818-E ergometer and baseline VO2 max testing on a Sensormedics electronically braked ergometer. On days 2 and 3, subjects were required to perform consecutive WPTs with a randomly-assigned 4-minute recovery period (AR at 28% of peak power, or PR) in between, until a 30% reduction in power occurred. Capillary lactate was taken when subjects reached a 30% reduction in power and every 5 minutes for 30 minutes after testing was completed. Results Means for total work achieved (joules) were 8646 with AR and 7151 with R, a significant difference (p < .021). In addition, capillary lactate levels (mmol) at the time of a 30% power reduction were 12.5 with AR, as compared to 15.8 with PR (p < .02). Conclusion This study is the first to document the dramatic beneficial effect of AR in between high-intensity exercise bouts in hockey players. Since the prevailing standard of recovery in ice hockey is PR, these results have potentially important implications in the recovery period between exercise bouts during a hockey game. Despite a small initial sample size, there is a significant effect of AR on performance, and currently further study is underway. The data also suggests that AR may be extremely valuable in sports where repetitive short bursts of high-intensity activity are required or in sports where muscle lactate accumulation may hinder performance. Supported by ACSM Reebok Grant for Human Performance and Injury Prevention 2000.