Acute and Delayed Effects of Time-Matched Very Short “All Out” Efforts in Concentric vs. Eccentric Cycling

Abstract

Background: To the authors’ knowledge, there have been no studies comparing the acute responses to “all out” efforts in concentric (isoinertial) vs. eccentric (isovelocity) cycling. Methods: After two familiarization sessions, 12 physically active men underwent the experimental protocols consisting of a 2-min warm-up and 8 maximal efforts of 5 s, separated by 55 s of active recovery at 80 rpm, in concentric vs. eccentric cycling. Comparisons between protocols were conducted during, immediately after, and 24-h post-sessions. Results: Mechanical (Work: 82,824 ± 6350 vs. 60,602 ± 8904 J) and cardiometabolic responses (mean HR: 68.8 ± 6.6 vs. 51.3 ± 5.7% HRmax, lactate: 4.9 ± 2.1 vs. 1.8 ± 0.6 mmol/L) were larger in concentric cycling (p < 0.001). The perceptual responses to both protocols were similarly low. Immediately after concentric cycling, vertical jump was potentiated (p = 0.028). Muscle soreness (VAS; p = 0.016) and thigh circumference (p = 0.045) were slightly increased only 24-h after eccentric cycling. Serum concentrations of CK, BAG3, and MMP-13 did not change significantly post-exercise. Conclusions: These results suggest the appropriateness of the eccentric cycling protocol used as a time-efficient (i.e., ~60 kJ in 10 min) and safe (i.e., without exercise-induced muscle damage) alternative to be used with different populations in future longitudinal interventions.

Effects of short sprint interval training on aerobic and anaerobic indices: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…8,9 Particularly, several SIT protocols with repeated short (≤10 s) efforts (sSIT) were shown to exhibit similar aerobic and anaerobic adaptations but better perceptual and enjoyment responses (i.e., "less pain, same gain") than Wingate-based SIT. [10][11][12][13] The greater efficiency of these sSIT protocols is related to the fact that the highest mechanical responses are achieved during the first seconds of sprinting bouts, 9 while the reduced glycolytic activity would result in less peripheral fatigue 14 because of the more reliance on the ATP-PCr pathway during the first 10 s of effort 15 Moreover, the acute responses of different sSIT schemes have been described with respect to physical, 10,14 physiological, 10,16,17 and perceptual 10,12 responses. However, there are only a few recent studies examining the physical and physiological adaptations after a number of sessions over only a few weeks, in cycling and running sprints with promising results.…”

Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage after a High-Intensity Interval Exercise Session: Systematic Review

“…Boullosa et al [44], in their study of physically active men after an acute HIIT session involving eccentric and concentric cycling protocols, also observed a significant increase in CK immediately after the two protocols and its normalization 24 h later. However, they reported differences between cycling protocols when evaluating other markers of muscle damage, such as the visual analog scale (VAS) and thigh circumference, in which VAS and thigh circumference changed only 24 h after the eccentric cycling protocol.…”

Effectiveness of short sprint interval training in women with major depressive disorder: a proof-of-concept study

“…Future studies may test this hypothesis in humans while examining the increase of other hormonal mediators as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) after SIT protocols differing in lactate levels (36, 37) and muscle contraction regimens (e.g. eccentric vs. concentric) (38).…”