Time-course of neuromuscular parameters, muscle soreness and sympatho-vagal balance following a 130-km cycling race

Abstract

This article is free to read on the publishers website This study aimed identifying the effects of a 130-km cycling race on indices of physiological recovery markers of during a 72-h period. Thirteen endurance trained male cyclists underwent a collection of indices for measuring neuromuscular parameters, muscle soreness and heart rate variability at five different moments of data collections: before, after and at 24, 48 and 72-h following a cycling race. Results indicate that the neuromuscular parameters scores decreased after the race (maximal voluntary isometric contraction: 13.61%, p .05) while other neuromuscular parameters values remained lower throughout the 72-h recover period (electromyography: 10.62%, p .05). The heart rate variability values increased after the race and remained higher for 72-h afterwards (p < .05). These findings show that a 130-km cycling race has a noteworthy effect on indices of neuromuscular parameters, muscle soreness and heart rate variability responses. Moreover, these results suggest that a 72-h recovery period does not appear to be enough for long-distance cyclist and reinforce the propositions within scientific literature concerning athletes involved in endurance cycling need for a sufficient recovery period.