Acute physiological responses to eccentric cycling: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Eccentric cycling (ECCCYC) has attracted considerable interest due to its potential applicability for exercise treatment/training of patients with poor exercise tolerance as well as healthy and trained individuals. Conversely, little is known about the acute physiological responses to this exercise modality, thus challenging its proper prescription. This study aimed to provide precise estimates of the acute physiological responses to ECCCYC in comparison to traditional concentric cycling (CONCYC). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Searches were performed until November 2021 using the PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases. Studies that examined individuals' cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses to ECCCYC and CONCYC sessions were included. Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis models were used to estimate the population mean difference between acute physiological responses from ECCCYC and CONCYC bouts. Twenty-one studies were included in this review. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The meta-analyses showed that ECCCYC induced lower cardiorespiratory (i.e., V̇O2, V̇E, and HR), metabolic (i.e., [BLa]), and perceptual (i.e., RPE) responses than CONCYC performed at the same absolute power output, while greater cardiovascular strain (i.e., greater increases in HR, Q, MAP, [norepinephrine], and lower SV) was detected when compared to CONCYC performed at the same V̇O2. CONCLUSIONS: The prescription of ECCCYC based on workloads used in the CONCYC sessions may be considered safe and, therefore, feasible for the rehabilitation of individuals with poor exercise tolerance. However, the prescription of ECCCYC based on the V̇O2 obtained during CONCYC sessions should be conducted with caution, especially in clinical settings, since there is a high probability of additional cardiovascular overload in this condition.

Is Functional Overreaching or Acute Fatigue the Key to the Effects of Concentrated Block Training in Running?

ABSTRACT: Borszcz, FK, Vieira, MT, Tramontin, AF, Visentainer, LH, and Costa, VP. Is functional overreaching or acute fatigue the key to the effects of concentrated block training in running? J Strength Cond Res 36(12): 3485-3496, 2022-This study examined the effects of 5 consecutive days of high- and moderate-intensity training on performance and physiological measures in moderately trained individuals. The relationship of the training organization with the state of overreaching and acute fatigue was investigated. Twenty-four male soldiers (age, 19.3 ± 0.4 years; V̇o2peak, 58.7 ± 3.8 ml·kg-1·min-1) were assigned to 2 training groups for 5 consecutive days of either high- or moderate-intensity training. The subjects underwent incremental and 12-minute time trial tests before, immediately after, 1 and 2 weeks after training. The high- and moderate-intensity sessions were 30 minutes in duration and performed at fixed velocities of 13.3 and 10 km·h-1 (near second and first ventilatory thresholds), respectively. Acute fatigue and overreaching criteria were set as concomitant nonimpairment and impairment, respectively, in the incremental peak velocity and 12-minute time trial performances at posttest immediately after the training block. Data analyses were completed using hierarchical Bayesian's models. In subjects who wer trained at moderate intensity, no performance impairment occurred (i.e., acute fatigue); for the high-intensity training, 5 subjects showed impairment in performance and were classified as overreached. Only in subjects who were acutely fatigued, clear beneficial effects were observed in incremental test peak velocity and 12-minute time trial performances. In moderately trained runners, a block of 5 consecutive days of moderate-intensity training was demonstrated to be a useful strategy for the improvement of performance. However, high-intensity training does not seem to be a safe strategy because of the observations of overreaching and inferior probabilities of performance improvements.

Physiological and Perceptual Responses in Spinal Cord Injury Handcyclists During an Endurance Interval Training: The Role of Critical Speed.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the physiological (oxygen uptake, heart rate, and blood lactate concentration) and perceptual (rating of perceived exertion) responses during an endurance interval training at the critical speed in elite handcyclists with spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Eight handcyclists performed an incremental test, three tests to exhaustion at a constant speed to determine critical speed, and the endurance interval training. The endurance interval training consisted of 6 × 5 mins at the individualized critical speed, with passive recovery of 50 secs. All testing was performed using their own handcycles on an oversized motorized treadmill. Physiological and perceptual responses were assessed during the incremental and endurance interval training tests. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in average oxygen uptake from the first to the sixth repetition. The mean ∆[La-]10_last between the 10th to the 30th minute of the exercise was -0.36 mmol·l-1, and no difference was detected from the first to the sixth repetition. The heart rate also remained stable during endurance interval training, whereas rating of perceived exertion increased significantly throughout the session. CONCLUSIONS: Repetitions of 5 mins at the critical speed in elite handcyclists are associated with cardiorespiratory and lactate steady state, whereas the perceived exertion increased systematically.

The Impact of Pre-Exercise Carbohydrate Meal on the Effects of Yerba Mate Drink on Metabolism, Performance, and Antioxidant Status in Trained Male Cyclists.

INTRODUCTION: The consumption of yerba mate (YM), a source of antioxidants, in a fasted state increases fatty acid oxidation (FATox) during low-moderate-intensity exercise and improves performance in high-intensity exercise. However, the impact of a pre-exercise carbohydrate (CHO) meal on YM effects during exercise is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of yerba mate drink (YMD) consumed in the fasted state (YMD-F) or after a CHO meal (YMD-CHO) on measurements of metabolism, performance, and blood oxidative stress markers in cycling exercise. METHODS: In a randomized, repeated-measures, crossover design, eight trained male cyclists ingested (i) YMD-CHO, (ii) YMD-F, or (iii) control-water and CHO meal (Control-CHO). The YMD (an infusion of 5 g of ultrarefined leaves in 250 mL of water) was taken for 7 days and 40 min before exercise. CHO meal (1 g/kg body mass) was consumed 60 min before exercise. The cycling protocol included a 40-min low-intensity (~ 53% V̇O2peak) constant load test (CLT); a 20-min time trial (TT); and 4 × 10-s all-out sprints. Blood samples and respiratory gases were collected before, during, and/or after tests. RESULTS: During CLT, YMD-CHO increased FATox ~ 13% vs. YMD-F (P = 0.041) and ~ 27% vs. Control-CHO (P < 0.001). During TT, YMD-CHO increased FATox ~ 160% vs. YMD-F (P < 0.001) and ~ 150% vs. Control-CHO (P < 0.001). Power output during TT improved ~ 3% (P = 0.022) in YMD-CHO vs. Control-CHO and was strongly correlated with changes in serum total antioxidant capacity (r = -0.87) and oxidative stress index (r = 0.76) at post-exercise in YMD-CHO. Performance in sprints was not affected by YMD. CONCLUSION: CHO intake did not negate the effect of YMD on FATox or TT performance. Instead, a synergism between the two dietary strategies may be present. Clinical Trial Registration NCT04642144. November 18, 2020. Retrospectively registered.

Near-infrared spectroscopy-derived muscle V̇O2${\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ kinetics after moderate running exercise in healthy males: reliability and associations with parameters of aerobic fitness.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? What is the reliability of near-infrared spectroscopy-derived muscle oxygen uptake ( mV̇O2${\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ ) kinetics following running exercise and what is the relationship between the time constant of mV̇O2${\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ off-kinetics and parameters of aerobic fitness? What is the main finding and its importance? The time constant of mV̇O2${\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ kinetics in gastrocnemius following moderate running exercise presents good to excellent reliability. In addition, it was well correlated with parameters of aerobic fitness, such as maximal speed of an incremental test, ventilatory threshold and pulmonary V̇O2${\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ on-kinetics. Therefore, near-infrared spectroscopy-derived muscle oxidative capacity together with other physiological measurements may allow a concomitant local and systemic analysis of the components of the oxidative system. ABSTRACT: Near-infrared spectroscopy-derived muscle oxygen uptake ( mV̇O2${\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ ) kinetics following single-joint exercise has been used to assess muscle oxidative capacity. However, little evidence is available on the use of this technique following whole-body exercise. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the reliability of the NIRS-derived mV̇O2${\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ kinetics following running exercise and to investigate the relationship between the time constant of mV̇O2${\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ off-kinetics ( τmV̇O2$\tau {\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ ) and parameters of aerobic fitness. After an incremental test to determine V̇O2max${\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{max}}}}$ , first (VT1 ) and second (VT2 ) ventilatory thresholds, and maximal speed (Smax ), 13 males (age = 21 ± 4 years; V̇O2max${\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{max}}}}$  = 55.9 ± 3.4 ml kg-1  min-1 ) performed three sets (two on the first day and one on a subsequent day) of two repetitions of 6-min running exercise at 90%VT1 . The pulmonary V̇O2${\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ ( pV̇O2${\rm{p}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ ) on-kinetics and mV̇O2${\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ off-kinetics in gastrocnemius were assessed. τmV̇O2$\tau {\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ presented no systematic change and satisfactory reliability (the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and intraclass correlation coefficient of 4.21 s and 0.49 for between transitions; and 2.65 s and 0.74 averaging τmV̇O2$\tau {\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ within each time set), with no difference (P > 0.3) between the within- (SEM = 2.92 s) and between-day variability (SEM = 2.78 s and 2.19 s between first vs. third set, and second vs. third set, respectively). τmV̇O2$\tau {\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ (28.5 ± 4.17 s) correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with Smax (r = -0.66), VT1 (r = -0.64) and time constant of the p V̇O2${\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ on-kinetics (r = 0.69). These findings indicate that NIRS-derived mV̇O2${\rm{m}}{\dot{V}_{{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$ kinetics in the gastrocnemius following moderate running exercise is a useful and reliable parameter to assess muscle oxidative capacity.

Physiological Correlations With Short, Medium, and Long Cycling Time-Trial Performance.

PURPOSE: Several studies have demonstrated that physiological variables predict cycling endurance performance. However, it is still unclear whether the predictors will change over different performance durations. The aim of this study was to assess the correlations between physiological variables and cycling time trials with different durations. METHODS: Twenty trained male cyclists (maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max] = 60.5 ± 5.6 mL/kg/min) performed 4 separate experimental trials during a 2-week period. Cyclists initially completed an incremental exercise test until volitional exhaustion followed by 3 maximal cycling time trials on separate days. Each time trial consisted of 3 different durations: 5 min, 20 min, and 60 min performed in a randomized order. RESULTS: The main results showed that the physiological measures strongly correlated with long cycling performances rather than short and medium time trials. The time-trial mean power output was moderately high to highly correlated with peak power output and VO2max (r = .61-.87, r = .72-.89, respectively), and was moderately to highly correlated with the lactate threshold Dmax method and second ventilatory threshold (r = .52-.75, r = .55-.82, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, trained cyclists should develop maximal aerobic power irrespective of the duration of time trial, as well as enhancements in metabolic thresholds for long-duration time trials.