Selected Indices of Anaerobic Capacity and Their Changes during Special Judo Fitness Tests at Different Ambient Temperatures Performed among Judo Athletes

Abstract

Background: Thermoregulatory processes play an important role during athletic competition. When athletes compete in an elevated ambient temperature, metabolic processes in their bodies become intensified. The main objective of the study was to determine changes in anaerobic total work (TW) and relative peak power (RPP) during a special judo fitness test at different ambient temperatures performed among judo athletes. Methods: The study included 15 judo athletes aged 20.7 ± 2.0 years, with a body height of 178 ± 6.3 cm, body mass totalling 76.3 ± 12.6 kg, VO2max at 43.2 ± 7.8 mL·kg−1, and peak power of 12.1 W·kg−1. A complete set of results was obtained for 10 athletes. In the main part of the examinations, judo athletes performed five sequences (7.20 min each), alternating efforts on a leg cycle and arm cycle ergometer in a thermal chamber at 21 ± 0.5 °C and 31 ± 0.5 °C. The efforts differed from typical interval exercise by alternating upper- and lower-limb efforts, as well as with regard to the duration of those efforts. Each sequence was followed by a 15 min interval for rest. In each sequence, subjects performed four anaerobic tests with the upper and lower limbs. Results: In the first of five series of efforts performed with the lower limbs (LL) at an ambient temperature of 21 °C, statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) were found between the mean RPP values recorded during the first and third and fourth repetitions, and between the second versus third and fourth repetitions. Statistically significant differences were also observed between the first and fourth efforts performed by the LL at 31 °C (p < 0.001) and between the second and third performed using the upper limbs (UL) at an ambient temperature of 21 °C Conclusions: Varying ambient thermal conditions do not affect the size of generated relative peak power or the volume of work performed in pulsating anaerobic exercise.