Abstract
We examined the respective associations between aerobic fitness (max), metabolic control ( kinetics) and locomotor function, and various physiological responses to high-intensity intermittent (HIT) running exercise in team sport players. Eleven players (30.5 ± 3.6 year) performed a series of tests to determine their max and the associated velocity (vmax), maximal sprinting speed (MSS) and kinetics at exercise onset in the moderate and severe intensity domains, and during recovery ( SEV). Cardiorespiratory variables, oxygenation and electromyography of lower limbs muscles and blood lactate ([La]) concentration were collected during a standardized HIT protocol consisting in 8 sets of 10, 4-s runs. During HIT, four players could not complete more than two sets; the others finished at least five sets. Metabolic responses to the two first sets of HIT were negatively correlated with max, vmax, and SEV (r = −0.6 to −0.8), while there was no clear relationship with the other variables. , oxygenation and [La] responses to the first two sets of HIT were the only variables that differed between the players which could complete at least five sets or those who could not complete more than two sets. Players that managed to run at least five sets presented, in comparison with the others, greater vmax [ES = +1.5(0.4; 2.7), MSS(ES = +1.0(0.1; 1.9)] and training load [ES = +3.8 (2.8; 4.9)]. There was no clear between-group difference in any of the kinetics measures [e.g., ES = −0.1(−1.4; 1.2) for SEV]. While max and vmax are likely determinant for HIT tolerance, the importance of kinetics as assessed in this study appears limited in the present population. Knowing the main factors influencing tolerance to HIT running exercise may assist practitioners in personalizing training interventions.
Highlights
Time motion match analyses have provided important information on the physical demands of team sports (Ben Abdelkrim et al, 2007; Di Salvo et al, 2007; Buchheit et al, 2010b; Povoas et al, 2012), with the most determinant actions generally occurring following high-intensity actions (Faude et al, 2012)
Tolerance to HIT running exercise is believed to be related to several physiological and locomotor attributes such as cardiorespiratory fitness, the speed associated with maximal oxygen uptake (Dupont et al, 2010a), the ability to quickly activate the aerobic system [as measured by the time constant (τ) of V O2 kinetics] (Dupont et al, 2005; Rampinini et al, 2009; Dupont et al, 2010b), and acceleration capacity and explosive strength of the lower limbs (Buchheit, 2008)
While we expected all players to complete the eight sets of the present HIT protocol, four players stopped exercise during the third set because of exhaustion
Summary
Time motion match analyses have provided important information on the physical demands of team sports (Ben Abdelkrim et al, 2007; Di Salvo et al, 2007; Buchheit et al, 2010b; Povoas et al, 2012), with the most determinant actions generally occurring following (repeated) high-intensity actions (Faude et al, 2012) While this might be position-, team formation- and individual playing style-dependent (Buchheit et al, 2010b; MendezVillanueva et al, 2011b), the ability to perform and tolerate HIT efforts is believed to be an important fitness prerequisite at the elite level. Rapid V O2 off-kinetics appear related to faster post-efforts replenishment of muscle O2 and phosphocreatine (PCr) stores (Borsheim and Bahr, 2003), which likely improves successive high-intensity exercise tolerance (Girard et al, 2011)
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