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Assessment of and recovery from high intensity intermittent exercise in untrained adults
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Type
Thesis
Author
Lim, Jamie Mervyn
Supervisor
Chia, Michael
Abstract
Many sports demand repeated efforts of maximal sprints over the course of the game. Therefore a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test was more appropriate than a test of a single test of an all out effort in assessing performance in such sports. Currently, the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) is considered the ‘gold standard’ in the measurement of short term maximal power output. However since many sports are running activities, the WAnT was criticised as lacking ecological validity. The non motorised treadmill (NMT) appeared to be a feasible alternative to the WAnT. Henceforth, Studies 1 and 2 tested the reliability and validity of power derived from the NMT, respectively. Both untrained male and female adults were recruited since data on these cohorts, especially the female adults, were minimal.
In Study 1, nine male and nine female participants (mean age 26.2 ± 2.9 yrs) completed two sessions on the NMT tests conducted two weeks apart. On the third session, the participants performed the WAnT. The data sets were analysed using the reliability coefficient, the typical error and the coefficient of variation. The results showed that the NMT test exhibited acceptable reliability for inter session and intra session peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) measurements. In comparison to the WAnT, the NMT test was just as reliable for intra session tests.
In Study 2, 12 male and 11 female adults (mean age 26.0 ± 3.1 yrs) performed a 10-s maximal sprint on the NMT and the WAnT. The data sets were analysed in absolute values, ratio scaled and allometrically scaled to BM. The results showed power generated by the NMT test and the WAnT shared acceptable levels (12 % variation) of agreement. The NMT was therefore a viable alternative to the WAnT for the assessment of PP and MP in short duration maximal sprints.
Studies 3 and 4 attempted to elucidate if recovery from high intensity intermittent sprints in untrained male and female adults were different. The studies also examined if intra session recovery or work-to-rest ratio (W:R) was the determinant in recovery from such exercises.
Study 3 showed that untrained female adults recovered faster than untrained male adults from high intensity intermittent sprints of up to 10 s. Ten male and 10 female participants (mean age 25.4 ± 4.7 yrs) attended three test sessions using a W:R of 1:6, 1:9 or 1:12 for each session. The participants performed 4 x 10-s maximal sprints on the NMT. Blood lactate concentration ( [La] ) was also assessed prior to the test and at the 2nd and 3rd minute post exercise. Results showed that for untrained male adults, a W:R of 1:9 was insufficient for PP recovery, but this was sufficient to prevent a significant (p < .05) reduction in MP. In untrained female adults, 1:9 and 1:6 W:R were required to prevent a significant (p < .05) decrease in PP and MP, respectively.
It was possible that recovery in power output was dependent on the intra session recovery time rather than the W:R, given that the sprint duration was short and the test being intermittent in nature. Results from Study 3 were not able to verify this. In Study 4, 10 male and 10 female participants (mean age 24.1 ± 1.3 yrs) performed the same tests as in Study 3, except that the W:R was fixed at 1:6. The three sprint-recovery durations were 10- and 60-s, 15- and 90-s and 20- and 120-s. Results showed that for untrained female adults, at least a 90-s intra session recovery was required to prevent a significant (p < .05) decrease in PP and MP. For untrained male adults, the optimal intra session recovery duration for PP was beyond 90 s.
In conclusion, untrained female adults recovered faster than untrained male adults. Recovery duration was a more important factor than W:R in power recovery during repeated sprints. In Studies 3 and 4, a non significant (p > .05) association was also reported between the composite fatigue index and blood [La].
In Study 1, nine male and nine female participants (mean age 26.2 ± 2.9 yrs) completed two sessions on the NMT tests conducted two weeks apart. On the third session, the participants performed the WAnT. The data sets were analysed using the reliability coefficient, the typical error and the coefficient of variation. The results showed that the NMT test exhibited acceptable reliability for inter session and intra session peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) measurements. In comparison to the WAnT, the NMT test was just as reliable for intra session tests.
In Study 2, 12 male and 11 female adults (mean age 26.0 ± 3.1 yrs) performed a 10-s maximal sprint on the NMT and the WAnT. The data sets were analysed in absolute values, ratio scaled and allometrically scaled to BM. The results showed power generated by the NMT test and the WAnT shared acceptable levels (12 % variation) of agreement. The NMT was therefore a viable alternative to the WAnT for the assessment of PP and MP in short duration maximal sprints.
Studies 3 and 4 attempted to elucidate if recovery from high intensity intermittent sprints in untrained male and female adults were different. The studies also examined if intra session recovery or work-to-rest ratio (W:R) was the determinant in recovery from such exercises.
Study 3 showed that untrained female adults recovered faster than untrained male adults from high intensity intermittent sprints of up to 10 s. Ten male and 10 female participants (mean age 25.4 ± 4.7 yrs) attended three test sessions using a W:R of 1:6, 1:9 or 1:12 for each session. The participants performed 4 x 10-s maximal sprints on the NMT. Blood lactate concentration ( [La] ) was also assessed prior to the test and at the 2nd and 3rd minute post exercise. Results showed that for untrained male adults, a W:R of 1:9 was insufficient for PP recovery, but this was sufficient to prevent a significant (p < .05) reduction in MP. In untrained female adults, 1:9 and 1:6 W:R were required to prevent a significant (p < .05) decrease in PP and MP, respectively.
It was possible that recovery in power output was dependent on the intra session recovery time rather than the W:R, given that the sprint duration was short and the test being intermittent in nature. Results from Study 3 were not able to verify this. In Study 4, 10 male and 10 female participants (mean age 24.1 ± 1.3 yrs) performed the same tests as in Study 3, except that the W:R was fixed at 1:6. The three sprint-recovery durations were 10- and 60-s, 15- and 90-s and 20- and 120-s. Results showed that for untrained female adults, at least a 90-s intra session recovery was required to prevent a significant (p < .05) decrease in PP and MP. For untrained male adults, the optimal intra session recovery duration for PP was beyond 90 s.
In conclusion, untrained female adults recovered faster than untrained male adults. Recovery duration was a more important factor than W:R in power recovery during repeated sprints. In Studies 3 and 4, a non significant (p > .05) association was also reported between the composite fatigue index and blood [La].
Date Issued
2006
Call Number
GV481 Lim
Date Submitted
2006