Performance and physiological responses during a sprint interval training session: relationships with muscle oxygenation and pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the cardiorespiratory and muscle oxygenation responses to a sprint interval training (SIT) session, and to assess their relationships with maximal pulmonary O(2) uptake [Formula: see text], on- and off- [Formula: see text] kinetics and muscle reoxygenation rate (Reoxy rate). Ten male cyclists performed two 6-min moderate-intensity exercises (≈90-95% of lactate threshold power output, Mod), followed 10 min later by a SIT session consisting of 6 × 30-s all out cycling sprints interspersed with 2 min of passive recovery. [Formula: see text] kinetics at Mod onset ([Formula: see text]) and cessation ([Formula: see text]) were calculated. Cardiorespiratory variables, blood lactate ([La](b)) and muscle oxygenation level of the vastus lateralis (tissue oxygenation index, TOI) were recorded during SIT. Percentage of the decline in power output (%Dec), time spent above 90% of [Formula: see text] (t > 90% [Formula: see text]) and Reoxy rate after each sprint were also recorded. Despite a low mean [Formula: see text] (48.0 ± 4.1% of [Formula: see text]), SIT performance was associated with high peak [Formula: see text] (90.4 ± 2.8% of [Formula: see text]), muscle deoxygenation (sprint ΔTOI = -27%) and [La](b) (15.3 ± 0.7 mmol l(-1)) levels. Muscle deoxygenation and Reoxy rate increased throughout sprint repetitions (P < 0.001 for both). Except for t > 90% [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text] [r = 0.68 (90% CL, 0.20; 0.90); P = 0.03], there were no significant correlations between any index of aerobic function and either SIT performance or physiological responses [e.g., %Dec vs. [Formula: see text]: r = -0.41 (-0.78; 0.18); P = 0.24]. Present results show that SIT elicits a greater muscle O(2) extraction with successive sprint repetitions, despite the decrease in external power production (%Dec = 21%). Further, our findings obtained in a small and homogenous group indicate that performance and physiological responses to SIT are only slightly influenced by aerobic fitness level in this population.

Effects of Antioxidant Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Acute Normobaric Hypoxia

“…In addition, we examined the TOI-value at VT (TOI-VT). These values were determined from an average of three recordings incorporating a time span of 15 s. Following Buchheit et al (2012) we applied a linear model over the incremental exercise assessment, starting from the 100 W resistance level to VO 2Peak (TOI-Regr, calculated by linear regression analysis), as well as from 100 W stage to VT (TOI-Regr_VT, linear regression analysis), to reveal muscle deoxygenation rate during these exercise phases.…”

An evaluation of low volume high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) for health risk reduction in overweight and obese men

“…Data detailing time spent at V̇O 2max during sub-maximal HIIT interventions is sparse making it difficult to relate training outcomes to this training parameter. Data from 30 s Wingate sprints demonstrates that trained individuals only spend between 18 and 22 s working at ≥ 90% V̇O 2max [52]. Typically this intensity was not achieved in the present study until repetition number 7, despite only a 7% drop in oxygen consumption by the end of 1 min recovery periods.…”

Tolerance to high-intensity intermittent running exercise: do oxygen uptake kinetics really matter?

“…While in soccer players, large to very-large correlations were reported between repeated-sprint ability and on- (Dupont et al, 2005; Rampinini et al, 2009) and off- (Dupont et al, 2010b) $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ kinetics, Buchheit et al could not find any relationship between repeated-sprint ability and $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ kinetics in moderately-trained cyclists (Buchheit et al, 2012a). This lack of association was confirmed in a subsequent study involving 61 team sport players (Buchheit, 2012b).…”

“…While the physiological rationale for the expected relationships between on- and off-$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ kinetics and HIT running tolerance makes intuitive sense [i.e., the lower the O 2 deficit and the faster the metabolic recovery, the better the high-intensity running capacity (Girard et al, 2011)], research findings have been inconclusive (Dupont et al, 2005; Rampinini et al, 2009; Dupont et al, 2010b; Buchheit, 2012a,b; Buchheit et al, 2012a). While in soccer players, large to very-large correlations were reported between repeated-sprint ability and on- (Dupont et al, 2005; Rampinini et al, 2009) and off- (Dupont et al, 2010b) $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ kinetics, Buchheit et al could not find any relationship between repeated-sprint ability and $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ kinetics in moderately-trained cyclists (Buchheit et al, 2012a).…”

“…In these lines, $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ kinetics could be more important for high-intensity (but not obligatory maximal) intermittent running tolerance/performance, which is likely more related to metabolic (Rampinini et al, 2008; Dupont et al, 2010a) than neuromuscular factors. Finally, in the two studies by Buchheit et al (2012a) and Buchheit (2012b), $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ kinetics were assessed during transitions from rest to moderate-intensity exercise, which differed from that reached during the repeated-sprint exercises examined (i.e., supramaximal intensity).…”