The Investigation On Blood Flow Reserve Capacity In Taekwondo Athletes At Different Sports Level

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fatigue and decreased performance often occur when the microcirculation blood flow (MBF) reserve capacity fails to meet the energy metabolic demand of the athletes. MBF reserve capacity directly determines the body's endurance capacity to exercise load. As a combat fighting sports, taekwondo athletes need to consume plenty of energy when the rectus femoris (RF) of the dominant leg contracts explosively to attack. PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of MBF reserve capacity of RF in taekwondo athletes at different sport level. METHODS: Eighteen fasted male taekwondo athletes (master athletes: age = 20.3 ± 4.0 yr, body mass = 68.8 ± 4.0 kg, height = 1.811 ± 0.023 m; national level I athletes:16.3 ± 1.15 yr, body mass = 70.2 ± 3.5 kg, height = 1.751 ± 0.025 m; national level II and below athletes: 16.5 ± 2.5 yr, body mass = 65.2 ± 3.5 kg, height = 1.741 ± 0.045 m) were tested at 8 am in university laboratory where the temperature was 25 °C and the humidity was 45.0%. Peri Flux System 5000 (Perimed co, LTD, Sweden) was utilized to test the right RF (1/2 of the line between the anterior superior iliac spine and apex of patella) in taekwondo athletes. The measurements included the baseline and post-heating (temperature = 44 °C) value of microcirculatory blood perfusion (MBP). Post-heating MBP minus pre-heating MBP is the MBF reserve capacity of the athletes. RESULTS: Repeated ANOVA showed significant differences (F = 3.934, 95% CI = 6.65 - 324.88, P = 0.044) in MBF reserve capacity among athletes at different sports level. Post hoc test further discovered that MBF reserve capacity of master athletes (165.77 ± 64.05 PU) was greater than that of national level II and below athletes (87.19 ± 37.22 PU) (P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: MBF reserve ability of taekwondo athletes is significantly higher in master level than in level II and below athletes. Consequently, high-level taekwondo athletes present higher MBF reserve capacity; besides, it is speculated that the design of training program (volume and intensity) for athletes at level II and below should be different from master athletes to avoid athletes' poor performance and fatigue.