Response to Heavy Rope Interval Training and Active Recovery in Division I College Football Players

Abstract

Heavy rope interval training is widely used to improve athletic performance, but there has been very little research conducted on the physiological effects of acute bouts of heavy rope interval training. There is also a lack of research concerning the impact of active recovery following bouts of interval training in college football athletes. PURPOSE: To examine the physiological response to acute bouts of heavy rope high-intensity interval training and compare the influence of active recovery (AR) and passive recovery (PR) on blood lactate clearance in Division I college football players. METHODS: The study population was comprised of 13 male Division I college football players (20.2 ± 1.4 years, 183.3 ± 6.0 cm, 89.5 ± 7.9 kg). The study used a randomized crossover groups design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups based on the order of the recovery type. During the heavy rope protocol, participants performed six, 15 s bouts of vigorous exercise separated by 30 s rest intervals. Participants recovered either actively or passively depending on their group assignment. The active recovery protocol consisted of walking at two miles per hour on a treadmill, and the passive recovery required the participant to sit still between exercise bouts. After a minimum rest period of 48 hr, participants in both groups repeated the intervention and the method of recovery was switched. Blood lactate concentration was measured at four time points; after a 4 min warm-up period, immediately after the heavy rope interval exercise, and at 2 and 5 min post exercise. RESULTS: Results of a two-way repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant recovery by time interaction F (3, 12) = 15.6, p < 0.01. Pairwise comparisons revealed that blood lactate concentration using active recovery was significantly lower than passive recovery immediately following the heavy rope high-intensity interval training bout (AR: 6.81 ± 1.06 mmol/l; PR: 7.69 ± 1.55 mmol/l, p < 0.05) and at 2 min (AR: 7.34 ± 1.26 mmol/l; PR: 8.92 ± 1.83 mmol/l, p < 0.01) and 5 min post exercise (AR: 7.07 ± 1.17 mmol/l; PR: 9.00 ± 1.82 mmol/l, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Active recovery following acute bouts of heavy rope interval training is more effective than passive recovery to enhance blood lactate clearance in Division I college football players.