Exercise Performance Recovery Research Articles

Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning (IPC) on Recovery of Exercise Performance Following a Bout of Exercise to Volitional Exhaustion

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on the recovery of exercise performance following maximal, incremental exercise. A total of 13 healthy males volunteered to participate, undertaking three experimental trials involving a constant work-rate bout of severe intensity exercise undertaken to the limit of tolerance that was preceded by a 40-min recovery period consequent to a maximal, incremental exercise test. During the recovery period, participants underwent IPC at 220 mmHg, sham IPC (SHAM; 20 mmHg), and passive rest (CON). Exercise tolerance time was higher following IPC as compared to SHAM and CON {199 ± 36 (CON) vs. 203 ± 35 (SHAM) vs. 219 ± 34 (IPC), p = 0.03}. This effect was accompanied by a tendency toward an augmented increase in blood lactate from rest to exercise in IPC compared to SHAM and CON (p = 0.08). There was no effect of IPC on oxygen uptake kinetics or muscle oxygenation as indicated via near-infrared spectroscopy. IPC may therefore have the capacity to augment recovery from prior maximal exercise, but this does not appear to be due to enhancements to oxygen uptake kinetics or muscle oxygenation.

Adaptations to Post-exercise Cold Water Immersion: Friend, Foe, or Futile?

In the last decade, cold water immersion (CWI) has emerged as one of the most popular post-exercise recovery strategies utilized amongst athletes during training and competition. Following earlier research on the effects of CWI on the recovery of exercise performance and associated mechanisms, the recent focus has been on how CWI might influence adaptations to exercise. This line of enquiry stems from classical work demonstrating improved endurance and mitochondrial development in rodents exposed to repeated cold exposures. Moreover, there was strong rationale that CWI might enhance adaptations to exercise, given the discovery, and central role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in both cold- and exercise-induced oxidative adaptations. Research on adaptations to post-exercise CWI have generally indicated a mode-dependant effect, where resistance training adaptations were diminished, whilst aerobic exercise performance seems unaffected but demonstrates premise for enhancement. However, the general suitability of CWI as a recovery modality has been the focus of considerable debate, primarily given the dampening effect on hypertrophy gains. In this mini-review, we highlight the key mechanisms surrounding CWI and endurance exercise adaptations, reiterating the potential for CWI to enhance endurance performance, with support from classical and contemporary works. This review also discusses the implications and insights (with regards to endurance and strength adaptations) gathered from recent studies examining the longer-term effects of CWI on training performance and recovery. Lastly, a periodized approach to recovery is proposed, where the use of CWI may be incorporated during competition or intensified training, whilst strategically avoiding periods following training focused on improving muscle strength or hypertrophy.

Late recovery of the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity after transcatheter amplatzer device closures for atrial septal defects in adults

Transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closures using an Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO) have been widely performed. Compared to children, we sometimes experience late recovery of exercise performance in adult patients. Our study aimed to evaluate the change in the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic adult patients after a transcatheter ASD closure using an ASO. The subjects consisted of 29 patients (age 39.5 ± 13.6years) that underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) before, 3, 6, and 12months after a transcatheter secundum ASD closure using an ASO. The peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2), anaerobic threshold (AT), and slope of the correlation between the ventilation and carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2 slope) were evaluated. We also evaluated the left-ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), right-ventricular end-diastolic dimension (RVEDD) by echocardiography, and hemodynamic values by cardiac catheterization before the ASO procedure. The peak VO2 did not show any improvement 3months after the ASO procedure; however, a significant improvement was displayed 6 and 12months (baseline: 23.4 ± 6.3, 3months: 23.6 ± 6.4, 6months: 25.1 ± 5.6, 12months: 26.4 ± 5.3mL/kg/min; p < 0.001) after the ASO. The LVEDD (before: 38.1 ± 3.6, 3months: 43.4 ± 3.4mm; p < 0.001) and RVEDD (before: 33.6 ± 5.3, 3months: 26.3 ± 2.6mm; p < 0.001) on echocardiography quickly improved 3months after the ASO. Although the LVEDD and RVEDD normalized 3months after the ASO, the peak VO2 still decreased; however, the peak VO2 improved to almost a normal range 6months after the ASO.

Protein Timing Does Not Affect Next-Day Recovery of Strength or Power but May Enhance Aerobic Adaptations to Short-Term Variable Intensity Exercise Training in Recreationally Active Males: A Pilot Study.

Background: Variable intensity training (VIT) characteristic of stop-and-go team sport exercise may reduce performance capacity when performed on successive days but also represent a strategy to induce rapid training-induced increases in exercise capacity. Although post-exercise protein enhances muscle protein synthesis, the timing of protein ingestion following variable intensity training (VIT) on next-day recovery and short-term performance adaptation is unknown.Purpose: To determine if immediate (IMM) as compared to delayed (DEL) protein ingestion supports greater acute recovery of exercise performance during successive days of VIT and/or supports chronic training adaptations.Methods: Sixteen habitually active men performed 5 consecutive days of variable intensity training (VIT) in the evening prior to consuming a beverage providing carbohydrate and whey protein (IMM; 0.7 g and 0.3 g/kg, respectively) or carbohydrates alone (DEL; 1 g/kg) with the reciprocal beverage consumed the following morning. Performance was assessed before each VIT (recovery) and 2 days after the final VIT (adaptation).Results: Five consecutive days of VIT progressively decreased anaerobic peak power (~7%) and muscle strength (MVC; ~8%) with no impact of protein timing. Following 2 days of recovery, VIT increased maximal voluntary contraction and predicted VO2peak by ~10 and ~5%, respectively, with a moderate beneficial effect of IMM on predicted VO2peak (ES = 0.78).Conclusion: Successive days of simulated team sport exercise decreases markers of next-day performance capacity with no effect of protein timing on acute recovery. However, practical VIT increases muscle strength and aerobic capacity in as little as 5 days with the latter potentially enhanced by immediate post-exercise protein consumption.

In athletes, does cold therapy promote better exercise performance recovery?

In athletes, does cold therapy promote better exercise performance recovery?

Effect of Body Composition on Physiological Responses to Cold-Water Immersion and the Recovery of Exercise Performance.

To explore the influence of body composition on thermal responses to cold-water immersion (CWI) and the recovery of exercise performance. Male subjects were stratified into 2 groups: low fat (LF; n = 10) or high fat (HF; n = 10). Subjects completed a high-intensity interval test (HIIT) on a cycle ergometer followed by a 15-min recovery intervention (control [CON] or CWI). Core temperature (Tc), skin temperature, and heart rate were recorded continuously. Performance was assessed at baseline, immediately post-HIIT, and 40min postrecovery using a 4-min cycling time trial (TT), countermovement jump (CMJ), and isometric midthigh pull (IMTP). Perceptual measures (thermal sensation [TS], total quality of recovery [TQR], soreness, and fatigue) were also assessed. Tc and TS were significantly lower in LF than in HF from 10min (Tc, LF 36.5°C ± 0.5°C, HF 37.2°C ± 0.6°C; TS, LF 2.3 ± 0.5 arbitrary units [a.u.], HF 3.0 ± 0.7 a.u.) to 40min (Tc, LF 36.1°C ± 0.6°C, HF 36.8°C ±0.7°C; TS, LF 2.3 ± 0.6 a.u., HF 3.2 ± 0.7 a.u.) after CWI (P < .05). Recovery of TT performance was significantly enhanced after CWI in HF (10.3 ± 6.1%) compared with LF (3.1 ± 5.6%, P = .01); however, no differences were observed between HF (6.9% ±5.7%) and LF (5.4% ± 5.2%) with CON. No significant differences were observed between groups for CMJ, IMTP, TQR, soreness, or fatigue in either condition. Body composition influences the magnitude of Tc change during and after CWI. In addition, CWI enhanced performance recovery in the HF group only. Therefore, body composition should be considered when planning CWI protocols to avoid overcooling and maximize performance recovery.

A proprietary polyphenolic blend offers improved strength recovery and reduced delayed onset muscle soreness post-exercise

Background The sports nutrition industry is seeing growth in consumers who are embarking on high intensity daily workout routines to regain and maintain physical fitness. This type of demanding training results in exercise-induced muscle damage setting off a cascade of increased oxidative stress and inflammation which in turn leads to reduced strength and increased delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) for days post-training. Consumption of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules is crucial to counteract these negative side effects. A proprietary polyphenolic blend of catechins and theaflavins (PPCT) was formulated and evaluated in a randomized, doubleblind, placebo controlled human trial to determine the effect on exercise performance recovery following eccentric exercise. Methods Male participants (age 18-35 years) volunteered and were randomized to receive either a placebo or PPCT (2,000 mg) daily for 13 weeks. During the 13 th week of supplementation, subjects performed a 40 minute downhill treadmill run (65% of VO2max) with 3 sets of isokinetic leg extension measurements taken at baseline (pre-exercise), 24, 48 and 96 hours post-exercise. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), muscle damage via creatine kinase (CK), oxidative stress via ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and a stress hormone (cortisol) were also examined at these timepoints. Consent to publish the results was obtained from all participants. Results The treatment group regained strength as measured by peak torque to 98% and 101% of pre-exercise levels at 48 and 96 hours post-exercise, respectively. In comparison the placebo group’s peak torque levels remained at 92 % and 93% of pre-exercise levels at the same time points post-exercise. These improvements were significant compared to placebo at both time points (p < 0.05). Additionally, participants in the PPCT group reported decreased whole body and hamstring DOMS compared to placebo at 48 hours (p = 0.029 for both). These enhancements in strength and DOMS were also supported by improvements in serum markers of oxidative stress, muscle damage and inflammation. Chronic consumption of PPCT improved serum antioxidant status (p = 0.039) as measured by FRAP. As expected, serum cortisol increased in all groups compared to pre-exercise levels; however by 96 hours, serum cortisol levels had returned to pre-exercise levels in the PPCT group while the placebo remained 20% above pre-exercise levels (p < 0.05). Creatine kinase (CK) increased in both groups peaking at 24 hours post-exercise. CK levels returned to pre-exercise values at 96 hours in the PPCT groups while levels in the placebo group remained significantly elevated 50% over pre-exercise levels (p < 0.05) at the same time point. These reductions in cortisol and CPK levels occur simultaneous to the recovery in pre-exercise strength observed at 96 hours. Conclusions Daily supplementation with PPCT was shown to reduce DOMS and promote recovery of muscle strength by reducing the oxidative stress and markers of muscle damage that occurs post-exercise.

Effects of Drugs on Exercise Performance

The effects of 15 preparations with general tonic, antioxidant, and antihypoxant activities on exercise performance of laboratory rats were studied in the forced swimming test. The best recovery and improvement of exercise performance was recorded after a single intragastric dose of schizandrin and acyzol. These drugs stimulated an increase in the parameters in control animals by 86 and 72% (exercise performance recovery) and by 33 and 51% (exercise performance improvement).