The Effects of a Cycling Warm-up Including High-Intensity Heavy-Resistance Conditioning Contractions on Subsequent 4-km Time Trial Performance

Abstract

Prior exercise has been shown to improve subsequent performance via different mechanisms. Sport-specific conditioning contractions can be used to exploit the 'post-activation potentiation' (PAP) phenomenon to enhance performance although this has rarely been investigated in short endurance events. The aim of this study was to compare a cycling warm-up with PAP-inducing conditioning contractions (CW) with a moderate intensity warm-up (MW) on performance and physiological outcomes of 4 km time trial. Ten well-trained male endurance cyclists (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max 65.3 ± 5.6 ml·kg·min) performed two 4 km cycling time trials following a 5-minute recovery after a warm-up at 60% of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max for 6.5-minutes (MW), and a warm-up with conditioning contractions (CW) consisting of 5 minutes at 60% of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max then 3 x 10-seconds at 70% of peak power interspersed with 30-seconds recovery. Blood lactate concentrations were measured before and after time trial. Expired gases were analysed along with time, power output (PO), and peak forces over each 500 m split. Following CW, mean completion time was reduced (1.7 ± 3.5 s p > 0.05), PO increased (5.1 ± 10.5 W p > 0.05) as did peak force per pedal stroke (5.7 ± 11 N p > 0.05) when compared to MW. V[Combining Dot Above]O2 increased (1.4 ± 1.6 ml·kg·min p < 0.05) following CW, whilst RER decreased (0.05 ± 0.02 p < 0.05). Physiological and performance differences following CW were greatest over the first 1500 m of the trials. The results suggest a PAP-inducing warm-up alters V[Combining Dot Above]O2 kinetics and can lead to performance improvements in short endurance cycling but work and recovery durations should be optimised for each athlete.

Post-activation performance enhancement strategies in sport: a brief review for practitioners

“…But, to date, there is still limited evidence with these athletes [26,32,47]. of note, considering the transient duration of PAPE (up to 10 minutes after CAs), it is still to be solved if the pacing improvements during the first splits of an endurance test may affect the total time, which may be related to the duration of the endurance exercise [48][49][50]. In addition, more studies comparing the effect of different warm-up protocols on both PAPE and cardiometabolic responses are needed, as endurance performance can be also related to oxygen uptake kinetics and perceptual responses [19].…”

Effect of Short-Duration High-Intensity Upper-Body Pre-Load Component on Performance among High-Level Cyclists

“…ATP turnover efficiency rises with tissue oxygenation rates, and higher oxygen (O 2 ) concentration allows the possibility to use slow but high-energy density substrates such as fat or intracellular lactate to provide ATP [ 1 ]. Exploiting metabolic mechanisms such as priming can provide higher O 2 levels, speed up V˙ O 2 kinetics, and increase power output and submaximal activation of aerobic mechanisms [ 2 , 3 ]. Although higher warm-up intensities have been shown to produce larger priming effects, the selected intensity should not induce fatigue.…”

Maximal sprints within the warm-up does not affect pacing or performance in a 10 km cycle time trial

“…Instead, an "on the bike" warm-up is simpler to implement and reflects the warm-ups cyclists already incorporate (British Cycling, 2018). Interestingly, recently a study was conducted that investigated the effects of a three 10-second cycling sprints at 70% of peak power with 30 seconds rest in between, on 4 km self-paced cycling time trial performance (Chorley & Lamb, 2017). Although not significant (p > .05), this protocol led in a mean reduction in time to completion of 1.7 seconds, an increase in mean power output of 5.1 watts and an increase in mean peak pedal power force of 5.7 Newton (N).…”

“…Based on the results of previous studies (Silva et al, 2014;Chorley & Lamb, 2017), the limited knowledge regarding the effect of PAP on endurance performance, and the practical application of cycling sprinting during a WU, new research regarding this topic is justified. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of a series of maximal all-out sprints, used in an attempt to induce a PAP effect, on self-paced 10 km time trial performance and associated physiological and perceptual responses.…”

“…The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of a series of maximal all-out sprints, used in an attempt to induce a PAP effect, on self-paced 10 km time trial performance and associated physiological and perceptual responses. Based on previous studies (Silva et al, 2014;Chorley & Lamb, 2017) it was hypothesized that our PAP specific WU would improve cycling performance, especially in the earlier stage of a self-paced activity.…”