Polarized Training Is Not Optimal for Endurance Athletes: Response to Foster and Colleagues

Bearden, Shawn E.; Jones, Andrew M.

doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000002924

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…33,45 In addition, several experts in endurance training have debated recently about which TID approaches could be better for endurances athletes. [46][47][48][49] It seems that large volumes of LIT (zone 1) are key to performance enhancement in endurance sports. However, it appears that the distribution of zones 2 and 3 of both approaches (used during endurance training periodization) will depend on the training phase or cycle, and the duration/distance of the event in competition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Training Periodization, Intensity Distribution, and Volume in Trained Cyclists: A Systematic Review

Galán-Rioja

Ravé

González-Mohíno

et al. 2023

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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A well-planned periodized approach endeavors to allow road cyclists to achieve peak performance when their most important competitions are held. Purpose: To identify the main characteristics of periodization models and physiological parameters of trained road cyclists as described by discernable training intensity distribution (TID), volume, and periodization models. Methods: The electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched using a comprehensive list of relevant terms. Studies that investigated the effect of the periodization of training in cyclists and described training load (volume, TID) and periodization details were included in the systematic review. Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Block periodization (characterized by employment of highly concentrated training workload phases) ranged between 1- and 8-week blocks of high-, medium-, or low-intensity training. Training volume ranged from 8.75 to 11.68 h·wk–1 and both pyramidal and polarized TID were used. Traditional periodization (characterized by a first period of high-volume/low-intensity training, before reducing volume and increasing the proportion of high-intensity training) was characterized by a cyclic progressive increase in training load, the training volume ranged from 7.5 to 10.76 h·wk–1, and pyramidal TID was used. Block periodization improved maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), peak aerobic power, lactate, and ventilatory thresholds, while traditional periodization improved VO2max, peak aerobic power, and lactate thresholds. In addition, a day-by-day programming approach improved VO2max and ventilatory thresholds. Conclusions: No evidence is currently available favoring a specific periodization model during 8 to 12 weeks in trained road cyclists. However, few studies have examined seasonal impact of different periodization models in a systematic way.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Training Periodization, Intensity Distribution, and Volume in Trained Cyclists: A Systematic Review

Galán-Rioja

Ravé

González-Mohíno

et al. 2023

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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“…Alternative approaches to “polarized training” have been proposed, such as pyramidal or “threshold” training intensity distributions. At present, and to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies that demonstrate that adherence to a polarized training program produces superior outcomes compared with the pyramidal training programs athletes typically practice or other possible training models ( 116 , 132 – 134 ). Indeed, polarized training per se seems totally incompatible with the principle of training specificity, a cornerstone of any training program.…”

Section: Optimizing Training Adaptations To Enhance Athletic Performancementioning

confidence: 95%

“…Although several long-term periodization approaches have been described ( 110 ), controlled studies comparing the impact of these different protocols on performance outcomes are lacking. As noted, anecdotal testimonies from top athletes and their coaches ( 111 ), case studies of elite performers ( 112 , 113 ), and reports of small cohorts of top athletes from specific sports ( 53 , 114 , 115 ) provide insights into the training practices of elite performers, but such studies merely document what successful athletes did; they do not reveal what made those athletes successful or prove that the program they followed was optimal ( 116 ). Indeed, there may have been many athletes who followed similar programs who were not successful, fell ill, suffered injury, or dropped out of the sport completely.…”

Section: Optimizing Training Adaptations To Enhance Athletic Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been hypothesized that a polarized approach to training, in which 75–80% of total training volume is performed at low intensities with 10–15% performed at supramaximal intensities, may be the optimal training intensity distribution for elite athletes who compete in intense endurance-based events ( 131 ). However, this practice has recently been questioned and debated ( 116 , 132 – 134 ). Alternative approaches to “polarized training” have been proposed, such as pyramidal or “threshold” training intensity distributions.…”

Section: Optimizing Training Adaptations To Enhance Athletic Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It might be advisable to be aware of possible limitations and keep an open mind vis-à-vis alternative interpretations, study-specific bias, and system complexity surpassing simplistic explanations. For example, there most likely is more than one cause for muscle fatigue ( 833 ); satellite cell recruitment might be important for hypertrophy in some but not all cases ( 658 ); the relative contribution of training intensity and volume on mitochondrial function in muscle might be very context-dependent ( 104 , 105 ) as is the relative contribution of muscle hypertrophy to gains in strength ( 834 , 835 ); and polarized or pyramidal intensity distributions might be optimal for performance enhancement ( 116 , 132 – 134 ). Even “established principles,” “dogmas,” and “laws” should constantly be questioned, validated, and refined.…”

Section: Summary Conclusion and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The molecular athlete: exercise physiology from mechanisms to medals

Furrer

Hawley

Handschin

2023

Physiological Reviews

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Human skeletal muscle demonstrates remarkable plasticity, adapting to numerous external stimuli including the habitual level of contractile loading. Accordingly, muscle function and exercise capacity encompass a broad spectrum, from inactive individuals with low levels of endurance and strength, to elite athletes who produce prodigious performances underpinned by pleiotropic training-induced muscular adaptations. Our current understanding of the signal integration, interpretation and output coordination of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern muscle plasticity across this continuum is incomplete. As such, training methods and their application to elite athletes largely rely on a "trial and error" approach with the experience and practices of successful coaches and athletes often providing the bases for "post hoc" scientific enquiry and research. This review provides a synopsis of the morphological and functional changes along with the molecular mechanisms underlying exercise adaptation to endurance- and resistance-based training. These traits are placed in the context of innate genetic and inter-individual differences in exercise capacity and performance, with special considerations given to the ageing athletes. Collectively, we provide a comprehensive overview of skeletal muscle plasticity in response to different modes of exercise, and how such adaptations translate from "molecules to medals".

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The influence of endurance exercise training on myocardial fibrosis and arrhythmogenesis in a coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis mouse model

Favere,

Van Hecke,

Eens

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Nonischaemic myocardial fibrosis is associated with cardiac dysfunction, malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. In the absence of a specific aetiology, its finding as late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is often attributed to preceding viral myocarditis. Athletes presenting with ventricular arrhythmias often have nonischaemic LGE. Previous studies have demonstrated an adverse effect of exercise on the course of acute viral myocarditis. In this study, we have investigated, for the first time, the impact of endurance training on longer-term outcomes such as myocardial fibrosis and arrhythmogenicity in a murine coxsackievirus B3 (CVB)-induced myocarditis model. Male C57BL/6J mice (n = 72) were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of forced treadmill running (EEX) or no exercise (SED). Myocarditis was induced 2 weeks later by a single intraperitoneal injection with CVB, versus vehicle in the controls (PBS). In a separate study, mice (n = 30) were subjected to pretraining for 13 weeks (preEEX), without continuation of exercise during myocarditis. Overall, continuation of exercise resulted in a milder clinical course of viral disease, with less weight loss and better preserved running capacity. CVB-EEX and preEEX-CVB mice tended to have a lower mortality rate. At sacrifice (i.e. 6 weeks after inoculation), the majority of virus was cleared from the heart. Histological assessment demonstrated prominent myocardial inflammatory infiltration and cardiomyocyte loss in both CVB groups. Inflammatory lesions in the CVB-EEX group contained higher numbers of pro-inflammatory cells (iNOS-reactive macrophages and CD8+ T lymphocytes) compared to these in CVB-SED. Treadmill running during myocarditis increased interstitial fibrosis [82.4% (CVB-EEX) vs. 56.3% (CVB-SED); P = 0.049]. Additionally, perivascular and/or interstitial fibrosis with extensive distribution was more likely to occur with exercise [64.7% and 64.7% (CVB-EEX) vs. 50% and 31.3% (CVB-SED); P = 0.048]. There was a numerical, but not significant, increase in the number of scars per cross-section (1.9 vs. 1.2; P = 0.195), with similar scar distribution and histological appearance in CVB-EEX and CVB-SED. In vivo electrophysiology studies did not induce sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, only nonsustained (usually polymorphic) runs. Their cumulative beat count and duration paralleled the increased fibrosis between CVB-EEX and CVB-SED, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.084 for each). Interestingly, in mice that were subjected to pretraining only without continuation of exercise during myocarditis, no differences between pretrained and sedentary mice were observed at sacrifice (i.e. 6 weeks after inoculation and training cessation) with regard to myocardial inflammation, fibrosis, and ventricular arrhythmogenicity. In conclusion, endurance exercise during viral myocarditis modulates the inflammatory process with more pro-inflammatory cells and enhances perivascular and interstitial fibrosis development. The impact on ventricular arrhythmogenesis requires further exploration.

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Polarized Training Is Not Optimal for Endurance Athletes: Response to Foster and Colleagues

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Training Periodization, Intensity Distribution, and Volume in Trained Cyclists: A Systematic Review

Training Periodization, Intensity Distribution, and Volume in Trained Cyclists: A Systematic Review

The molecular athlete: exercise physiology from mechanisms to medals

The influence of endurance exercise training on myocardial fibrosis and arrhythmogenesis in a coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis mouse model

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