Neuromuscular Adjustments Following Sprint Training with Ischemic Preconditioning in Endurance Athletes: Preliminary Data.

Stéphan Bouffard,Pénélope Paradis-Deschênes,François Billaut

doi:10.3390/sports9090124

Stéphan Bouffard, Pénélope Paradis-Deschênes + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/sports9090124

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Abstract

This preliminary study examined the effect of chronic ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on neuromuscular responses to high-intensity exercise. In a parallel-group design, twelve endurance-trained males (VO2max 60.0 ± 9.1 mL·kg−1·min−1) performed a 30-s Wingate test before, during, and after 4 weeks of sprint-interval training. Training consisted of bi-weekly sessions of 4 to 7 supra-maximal all-out 30-s cycling bouts with 4.5 min of recovery, preceded by either IPC (3 × 5-min of compression at 220 mmHg/5-min reperfusion, IPC, n = 6) or placebo compressions (20 mmHg, PLA, n = 6). Mechanical indices and the root mean square and mean power frequency of the electromyographic signal from three lower-limb muscles were continuously measured during the Wingate tests. Data were averaged over six 5-s intervals and analyzed with Cohen’s effect sizes. Changes in peak power output were not different between groups. However, from mid- to post-training, IPC improved power output more than PLA in the 20 to 25-s interval (7.6 ± 10.0%, ES 0.51) and the 25 to 30-s interval (8.8 ± 11.2%, ES 0.58), as well as the fatigue index (10.0 ± 2.3%, ES 0.46). Concomitantly to this performance difference, IPC attenuated the decline in frequency spectrum throughout the Wingate (mean difference: 14.8%, ES range: 0.88–1.80). There was no difference in root mean square amplitude between groups. These preliminary results suggest that using IPC before sprint training may enhance performance during a 30-s Wingate test, and such gains occurred in the last 2 weeks of the intervention. This improvement may be due, in part, to neuromuscular adjustments induced by the chronic use of IPC.

Highlights

As athletes advance in competitive level, improvements in performance become smaller and harder to achieve
Before sprint training may enhance performance during a 30-s Wingate test, and such gains occurred in the last 2 weeks of the intervention. This improvement may be due, in part, to neuromuscular adjustments induced by the chronic use of ischemic preconditioning (IPC)
The changes in peak power output (PPO) after two and four weeks of training appear slightly greater in PLA (↑7.4 ± 11.8%, ES 0.48, chances to observe greater/trivial/lower score 85/13/1%) than IPC (↑3.9 ± 11.2%, ES 0.16, 37/62/1), but there was no clear difference between groups

Summary

Introduction

As athletes advance in competitive level, improvements in performance become smaller and harder to achieve. Resting application of IPC for 3 to 7 days can improve VO2 max, maximal aerobic power (MAP) and performance during repeated Wingate tests [2] and repeated swimming sprints [3] in an active population. Such improvements are mostly derived from blood flow and O2 kinetics changes [4,5,6,7,8]. This is not always the case, especially in an athletic population. 3 to 9 days of IPC failed to enhance 4 and 5-km time-trial performances in trained individuals [9,10] and 600-m on-ice time trial in elite speed skaters [11]

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