The Effect of Lower Body Anaerobic Pre-Loading on Upper Body Ergometer Time Trial Performance.

Priit Purge,Gerhard Tschakert,Allar Kivil,Alexander Müller,Jaak Jürimäe,Dmitri Valiulin,Peter Hofmann

doi:10.3390/sports9060079

Abstract

Pre-competitive conditioning has become a substantial part of successful performance. In addition to temperature changes, a metabolic conditioning can have a significant effect on the outcome, although the right dosage of such a method remains unclear. The main goal of the investigation was to measure how a lower body high-intensity anaerobic cycling pre-load exercise (HIE) of 25 s affects cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses in subsequent upper body performance. Thirteen well-trained college-level male cross-country skiers (18.1 ± 2.9 years; 70.8 ± 7.6 kg; 180.6 ± 4.7 cm; 15.5 ± 3.5% body fat) participated in the study. The athletes performed a 1000-m maximal double-poling upper body ergometer time trial performance test (TT) twice. One TT was preceded by a conventional low intensity warm-up (TTlow) while additional HIE cycling was performed 9 min before the other TT (TThigh). Maximal double-poling performance after the TTlow (225.1 ± 17.6 s) was similar (p > 0.05) to the TThigh (226.1 ± 15.7 s). Net blood lactate (La) increase (delta from end of TT minus start) from the start to the end of the TTlow was 10.5 ± 2.2 mmol L−1 and 6.5 ± 3.4 mmol L−1 in TThigh (p < 0.05). La net changes during recovery were similar for both protocols, remaining 13.5% higher in TThigh group even 6 min after the maximal test. VCO2 was lower (p < 0.05) during the last 400-m split in TThigh, however during the other splits no differences were found (p < 0.05). Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was significantly lower in TThigh in the third, fourth and the fifth 200 m split. Participants individual pacing strategies showed high relation (p < 0.05) between slower start and faster performance. In conclusion, anaerobic metabolic pre-conditioning leg exercise significantly reduced net-La increase, but all-out upper body performance was similar in both conditions. The pre-conditioning method may have some potential but needs to be combined with a pacing strategy different from the usual warm-up procedure.

Highlights

Pre-loading or warm-up are common practices before training or competition
Since athletic skills and physiological properties have increased rapidly in the late years, the focus has moved to better physiological preparation [2,3], that could speed up VO2 kinetics and increase peak power output (PPO) values without spending crucial energy and time
This study aimed to measure the effects of 25 s of lower body anaerobic high-intensity anaerobic cycling pre-load exercise (HIE) on subsubsequent upper body performance

Summary

Introduction

Pre-loading or warm-up are common practices before training or competition. Traditional warm-up effects have been proved beyond doubt for achieving better preparation and readiness for subsequent performance. The scientific community supports the use of warm-up, which has been reported to increase muscle temperature and stimulate performance of muscle contraction [1]. Increased body temperature and speeded VO2 kinetics are on top of the list of gaining effects. Since athletic skills and physiological properties have increased rapidly in the late years, the focus has moved to better physiological preparation [2,3], that could speed up VO2 kinetics and increase peak power output (PPO) values without spending crucial energy and time. According to this approach, Müller et al [4]

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