european college of sport science

OP-ST04 Sports 4
Results: 2 (pre/post) x 4 (recovery interventions) ANOVA with repeated measures indicated significant time x recovery intervention interaction
in average power (F(3,27): 5.297, p=.032) and follow up one way ANOVA with repeated measures indicated that there was a significant
difference in average power between 20 minutes of massage intervention and 10 minutes of passive recovery. No significant differences
or interactions were observed in other measured anaerobic indices (p>.05). Results also indicated no significant differences
among resting heart rate and blood lactate levels measured before four testing occasions (p>0.05). Significant differences were found in
heart rate at the end of recovery interventions (F(3,27)=6.875; p=.001) and bonferroni post hoc analysis indicated this significant difference
was as a result of 20 minutes of massage intervention. In addition results also revealed significant differences in lactate levels at the end
of recovery interventions (F(3,27)= 4.734; p=.009) and post hoc analysis showed that this difference was due to 20 minutes of massage
intervention. No significant differences were obtained in other measured recovery indices (p>.05).
Discussion: Our results indicated that 20 minutes of leg massage was effective in improving average power and recovery from high
intensity cycling exercise. Given that many of researches have found no effect of leg massage on subsequent performance (Robertson et
al., 2004; Goodwin et al. 2007), these findings suggest that in determining the effects of leg massage on various performance indices,
duration of massage should be taken into account.
References
Goodwin JE, Glaister M, Howatson G, Lockey RA, McInnes G. (2007) J Strength Cond Res, 21, 1028-1031
Hemmings B, Smith M, Graydon J, Dyson R. (2000) Br J Sports Med, 34, 109-115.
Moraska A. (2005) J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 45, 370-380.
Robertson A, Watt JM, Galloway SDR. (2004) Br J Sports Med, 38, 173-176.
EVALUATION OF A FIELD TEST TO ASSESS AEROBIC ENDURANCE AND PERFORMANCE IN ELITE CYCLISTS
NIMMERICHTER, A., WILLIAMS, C., ESTON, R.
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (EXETER, UK), AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORTS MEDICINE (VIENNA, AUSTRIA)
Introduction: The assessment of endurance performance is usually conducted during laboratory ergometer tests. In field tests, time to
complete a given distance is often the chosen performance measure. Since external conditions can largely influence these measures, the
aim was to evaluate the reliability of power output in a field test and validate performance measures obtained from a traditional laboratory
ergometer test.
Methods: Fifteen competitive male cyclists (age: 25.6 ± 5.2 y; height: 180.6 ± 4.5 cm; weight: 70.6 ± 4.4 kg; VO2max: 67.1 ± 5.0
ml/min/kg) completed an incremental graded exercise test (GXT) to determine ventilatory threshold, respiratory compensation point (VT,
RCP) and lactate turn points (LTP1, LTP2) and two maximal aerobic power 4-min (MAP 4) and 20-min (MAP 20) time-trials, during which
power output was measured with mobile power cranks (SRM).
Results: Power (W) was 263 ± 37, 344 ± 38, 243 ± 27, 344 ± 37 and 440 ± 38 W, for LTP1, LTP2, VT, RCP and Pmax, respectively. Average
power during the 4-min time-trial (412 ± 53 W) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than during the 20-min time-trial (347 ± 42 W) and was
correlated with (r = 0.791 to 0.878, p < 0.001) but significantly different from (p < 0.001) performance markers obtained during GXT. No
significant differences were observed between the 20-min time-trial, LTP2 (p = 0.946) and RCP (p = 0.853). Strong test-retest correlations
for MAP 4 (ICC = 0.976, p < 0.001) and MAP 20 (ICC = 0.985, p < 0.001) were observed.
Discussion: The test-retest reproducibility was in agreement with the results of a 40-km outdoor time-trial reported by Smith et al. (2001).
The reliability of a 3-min laboratory all out test has been published by Burnley et al. (2006) where typical error was found to be ± 7 W or 3
%, which is similar to the results of the 4-min time-trial (± 8 W or 2.2 %). Measures of aerobic performance explained 65 % - 77 % of the
variance in MAP 4 and MAP 20. The 4-min time-trial was on average 93 % of Pmax from GXT, reflecting the ability of high-level athletes
to tolerate intensities of 95 % - 105 % over 4-15 min. Average power during 20-min time-trial was 79 % of Pmax, which is in accordance
with exercise intensities during time-trials in professional cyclists (Lucia, et al., 2001). In conclusion the 4-min and 20-min time-trials are
reliable measures of aerobic endurance. The 20-min time-trial is valid to predict RCP and LTP2.
References
Burnley, M., Doust, J. H., & Vanhatalo, A. (2006). A 3-min all-out test to determine peak oxygen uptake and the maximal steady state.
Med Sci Sports Exerc, 38(11), 1995-2003.
Lucia, A., Hoyos, J., & Chicharro, J. L. (2001). Physiology of professional road cycling. Sports Med, 31(5), 325-337.
Smith, M. F., Davison, R. C., Balmer, J., & Bird, S. R. (2001). Reliability of mean power recorded during indoor and outdoor self-paced 40
km cycling time-trials. Int J Sports Med, 22(4), 270-274.
CAN CYCLING PERFORMANCE IN AN EVENING LABORATORY-BASED CYCLE TIME-TRIAL BE IMPROVED BY EXERCISE
OR HABITUATION THE DAY BEFORE?
EDWARDS, B.J., GEORGE, C., WATERHOUSE, J., REILLY, T.
LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY
The normal circadian rhythm of performance can be altered by the habitual timing of performance. Whether this is due to a resetting of
the body clock or due to a habitualisation of the time of training is unknown. Therefore, we investigated if evening time-trial performance
was affected by the time at which moderate exercise was performed the previous day (at 12:00 or 18:00 h) or by the subjects attending
the laboratory at 18:00 h with the intention of exercising but, in fact, just sitting on the ergometer for 30 minutes. Eight male cyclists
(Mean±SD: VO2 peak = 54.7±7.7 ml.kg.min-1, age = 19±1 years, body mass = 77.7±8.2 kg and height = 183.7±5.2 cm) took part in the
study. The local Ethics Committee of the University approved the study. The subjects completed three familiarisation trials to the best of
their ability at a self-selected pace. The subjects then completed three separate pre-time-trial sessions of sub-maximal cycle ergometry
(60% VO2 peak for 30 minutes) on the day before the time trial: at 12:00 h and 18:00 h, and a condition of no exercise at 18:00 h (where
the subjects were told that no exercise was to be undertaken after having completed the resting part of the experiment and spent the
same amount of time sitting on the cycle ergometer). The time trials themselves were 16.1 km and always took place at 18:00 h. The
design of the study was such that the pre-time-trial sessions were counterbalanced in order of administration and a standardised 5-min
warm-up at 130 W was completed prior to each time-trail. Heart rate, power output, ratings of perceived exertion, RPE, and rectal temperature
were measured at rest, every 5-min in the pre-time-trial exercises, and every 1.61 km (split times) during the time trials. Fingertip
blood samples were taken at rest and immediately after the time trials for estimations of haematocrit, haemoglobin and lactate. The 95%
ratio limits of agreement for the 16.1 km time-trial performances were */÷ 0.46, assessed in a prior test-retest study. Data were analysed
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ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT SCIENCE