Comparison of Post-Exercise Recovery Methods on Performance Markers, Latate and Psycohological Mood States Elicited By Endurance Cycling

Abstract

COMPARISON OF POST-EXERCISE RECOVERY METHODS ON PERFORMANCE MARKERS, LATATE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MOOD STATES ELICITED BY ENDURANCE CYCLING. Athletes who train for competitive sports are exposed to demanding training which often occurs multiple times a day or on consecutive days. Based on this premise, recovery techniques are regarded as an essential element of training and optimal performance outcomes. PURPOSE: The effects of 3 different recovery modes were investigated following a time to exhaustion endurance cycling bout; antigravity treadmill (ATG), stationary cycle (SC), and static stretching (SS) on anaerobic capacity, blood lactate, and psychological mood states (POMS). METHODS: Within this matched cross-over designed study, twelve healthy aerobically trained males aged 21.25 ± 2.3 years completed an 18.25 mile time trial performed by stationary cycling. Immediately following the endurance bout on the Computrainer, participants recovered at approximately 40% V̇o2max for 30 minutes on the ATG, SC, or SS groups based on random assignment (V̇o2 max (ml·kg−1·min−1) (53.71 ± 6.28). After a two week recovery period, participants repeated the endurance cycling bout followed by one of the two remaining recovery methods. The process was repeated an additional time as participants completed the final designated recovery method. After the respective recovery method was complete each participants anaerobic capacity (30 second Wingate) was measured to compare the effectiveness of each experimental method. RESULTS: Data (p<.05) are presented as means ± standard deviation for ATG, SC and SS groups respectively. ANOVA with Repeated Measures reveled no statistical significance between recovery methods regarding peak power (watts), (baseline, 1323 ± 322.89), (1371.83 ± 364.08, 1411.08 ± 355.36, 1430.83 ± 428.64), mean power (watts), (baseline, 713 ± 114.19), (707.67 ± 115.82, 705.33 ± 127.55, 718.50 ± 125.71), time to peak (sec), (baseline, 4.68 ± 0.83), (4.59 ± 0.70, 4.38 ± 0.53, 4.43 ± 0.49), rate to fatigue (watt/sec), (baseline, 36.17 ± 12.54), (38.72 ± 12.80, 40.15 ± 12.31, 40.71 ± 15.48) respectively; psychological mood states (vigor, tension, depression, anger fatigue, confusion) (baseline, 13.82 ± 15.66; T2, Post (6.82 ± 20.41, 5.91 ± 14.82, 6.36 ± 17.79); T4, (10.82 ± 27.30, 0.82 ± 13.72, 5.73 ± 18.50) or lactate (mmol) overall from 8 time points, (baseline 1.95 ± 1.21, 1.61 ± 0.81, 1.59 ± .70). However, a significant main effect for time for lactate (p = 0.010) was detected with subsequent pairwise analysis revealing a significant increase from immediately post-exercise (6.94 ± 4.83, 7.19 ± 4.72, 5.31 ± 2.41) to 5 minutes after (4.56 ± 4.36, 5.23 ± 4.44, 4.04 ± 2.14) the endurance bout (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Following an acute bout of endurance cycling, no significant differences were noted between recovery methods on physiological performance, blood lactate or psychological mood state characteristics. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: After a training session or following competition, it is the goal of an athlete to be able to train or compete at full capacity during subsequent exercise endeavors. For this reason, recovery is regarded as an essential element of training and performance. While minimal differences were noted in this study between select recovery methods, further research is warranted that includes individualized recovery modalities to create balances between the stresses of training and competition. Anti-gravity Treadmill provided by Alter-G, Inc.