External Responsiveness of the SuperOpTM Device to Assess Recovery After Exercise: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Post-exercise recovery is a complex process involving a return of performance and a physiological or perceptual feeling close to pre-exercise status. The hypothesis of this study is that the device investigated here is effective in evaluating the recovery state of professional cyclists in order to plan effective training. Ten professional male cyclists belonging to the same team were enrolled in this study. Participants performed a 7-day exercise program [D1, D4, and D7: low-intensity training; D2 and D5: passive recovery; D3: maximum oxygen consumption (VO 2Max) test (for maximum mechanical power assessment only); and D6: constant load test]. During the week of monitoring, each morning before getting up, the device assessed each participant's so-called Organic Readiness {OR [arbitrary unit (a.u.)]}, based on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), features of past exercise session, and following self-perceived condition. Based on its readings and algorithm, the device graphically displayed four different colors/values, indicating general exercise recommendations: green/3 = "you can train hard," yellow/2 = "you can train averagely," orange/1 = "you can train lightly," or red/0 = "you should recover passively." During the week of research, morning OR values and Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons showed significant differences between days and, namely, values (1) D2 (after low intensity training) was higher than D4 (after VO 2Max test; P = 0.033 and d = 1.296) and (2) D3 and D6 (after passive recovery) were higher than D4 (after VO 2Max test; P = 0.006 and d = 2.519) and D5 (after low intensity training; P = 0.033 and d = 1.341). The receiver operating characteristic analysis area under curve (AUC) recorded a result of 0.727 and could differentiate between D3 and D4 with a sensitivity and a specificity of 80%. Preliminarily, the device investigated is a sufficiently effective and sensitive/specific device to assess the recovery state of athletes in order to plan effective training.

Acute Effects of a Percussive Massage Treatment on Movement Velocity during Resistance Training

“…In addition, different strategies have been proposed to optimize post-exercise recovery and [11] and inter-set recovery during RT; some are based on seeking an optimal recovery time [12], while other aspects related to physical therapy, such as massage, have been proposed for recovery in RT [13]. Recently, the application of foam roller self-massage during lower extremity exercise inter-set rests has been investigated, with findings indicating that the use of this technique hinders performance and increases perceived exertion [14].…”

A Competitive Sprinter’s Resting Blood Lactate Levels Fluctuate with a One-Year Training Cycle: Case Reports

“…Recently, a study evaluating the physiological conditioning of professional cycle athletes based on morning heart rate and blood pressure variability was published [ 10 ]. The present study may contribute to the evaluation of physiological conditioning by resting morning BLa monitoring.…”

Energy cost differences between marathon runners and soccer players: Constant versus shuttle running

“…Previous studies have compared the oxygen consumption and blood lactate concentration at a fixed (relative to maximal) aerobic speed ( Buchheit et al, 2011 ). However, these studies did not perform specific maximal tests considering the constant and non-constant conditions and, therefore, hampering adequate comparison at same metabolic intensities ( Ardigò et al, 2020 ).…”