Maximal-Intensity Intermittent Exercise: Effect of Recovery Duration

Abstract

Seven male subjects performed 15 x 40m sprints, on three occasions, with rest periods of either 120 s (R120), 60 s (R60) or 30 s (R30) between each sprint. Sprint times were recorded with four photo cells placed at 0, 15, 30 and 40 m. The performance data indicated that whereas running speed over the last 10 m of each sprint decreased in all three protocols (after 11 sprints in R120, 7 sprints in R60 and 3 sprints in R30), performance during the initial acceleration period from 0-15 m was only affected with the shortest rest periods increasing from (mean +/- SEM) 2.58 +/- .03 (sprint 1) to 2.78 +/- .04 s (spring 15) (p < .05). Post-exercise blood lactate concentration was not significantly different in R120 (12.1 +/- 1.3 mmol.l-1) and R60 (13.9 +/- 1.2 mmol.l-1), but a higher concentration was found in R30 (17.2 +/- .7 mmol.l-1) (p < .05). After 6 sprints there was no significant difference in blood lactate concentration with the different recovery durations, however, there were significant differences in sprint times at this point, suggesting that blood lactate is a poor predictor of performance during this type of exercise. Although the work bouts could be classified primarily as anaerobic exercise, oxygen uptake measured during rest periods increased to 52, 57 and 66% of maximum oxygen uptake in R120, R60 and R30, respectively. Evidence of adenine nucleotide degradation was provided by plasma hypoxanthine and uric acid concentrations elevated post-exercise in all three protocols. Post-exercise uric acid concentration was not significantly affected by recovery duration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relationships among field-test measures and physical match performance in elite-standard soccer referees

“…Consequently, the group demonstrated no change in sprint time across the six sprints and subsequently the group 40m decrement was less when compared to previous studies of repeated-sprint performance Spencer et al, 2006). The absence of any performance decrement with 90 seconds recovery is consistent with Balsom, Seger, Sjodin & Ekblom (1992) who reported that 40-m sprint time did not decrease until the 12 th sprint with 60 seconds recovery. Furthermore, a recovery time of 90 seconds equates to a work:rest ratio of 1:14, which is higher than the critical 1:10 previously reported for soccer referees (Abt, Castagna, Belardinelli & McCarthy, 2004).…”

“…Furthermore, a recovery time of 90 seconds equates to a work:rest ratio of 1:14, which is higher than the critical 1:10 previously reported for soccer referees (Abt, Castagna, Belardinelli & McCarthy, 2004). Therefore, in order to accurately measure repeated-sprint ability in soccer referees the recovery time on the FIFA sprint test should be decreased and the test protocol brought more in-line with previously validated tests (Balsom et al, 1992;Rampinini et al, 2007;Spencer et al, 2006). The assessment of fatigue is one of the key outcomes from a multiple-sprint test (Glaister, Howatson, Pattison & McInnes, 2008) and if the current repeated-sprint test does not provide this measure then it's inclusion in the testing procedure is questionable given the strength of the relationship between 40m fastest with match high-intensity running and sprinting.…”

Time-motion analysis of work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer

“…Previous research has shown that blood lactate accumulation and performance decrements over five 6 s maximal sprint bouts performed on cycle-ergometer equipment were greater when a recovery of 30 s was taken between bouts than when the recovery was 60 s (Wootton & Williams, 1983). Furthermore, muscle CP may not be sufficiently replenished after recovery periods of under 45 s (Balsom et al, 1992).…”

The physiological responses to repeated upper-body sprint exercise in highly trained athletes

“…Overall, repeated sprint exercise requires contributions from both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, shifting from being mostly anaerobic towards a combination of anaerobic and aerobic. However, the physiological responses to repeated sprint exercise are highly dependent upon the test protocol used, such as the number of sprints and the duration of sprint and recovery periods (Balsom et al 1992), as well as the physiological characteristics of the subjects (Mendez-Villanueva et al 2008). Additionally, the magnitude of sprint decrement and subsequent physiological responses are likely to be dependent on exercise mode and the amount of active muscle mass.…”