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Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(01): 9-15
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1384546
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Muscle Ischemic Preconditioning does not Improve Performance during Self-Paced Exercise

F. Tocco
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
E. Marongiu
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
G. Ghiani
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
I. Sanna
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
G. Palazzolo
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
S. Olla
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
M. Pusceddu
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
P. Sanna
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
F. Corona
1   Department of Medical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
A. Concu
2   Physiology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
,
A. Crisafulli
3   Science Applied to Biological Systems, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 15 May 2014

Publication Date:
29 September 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Muscle ischemic preconditioning (IP) has been found to improve exercise performance in laboratory tests. This investigation aims at verifying whether performance is improved by IP during self-paced exercise (SPE) in the field. 11 well-trained male runners performed 3 randomly assigned 5 000 m self-paced running tests on an outdoor track. One was the reference (RT) test, while the others were performed following muscle IP (IPT) and a control sham test (ST). Average speeds were measured during each test. Mean values in oxygen uptake (VO2), aerobic energy cost (AEC) during race and post-race blood lactate (BLa) were gathered. Data showed that none of the studied variables were affected by IPT or ST with respect to the RT test. Average speeds were 4.63±0.31, 4.62±0.31 and 4.60±0.25 m·s−1 for the RT, the ST and the IPT tests, respectively. Moreover, there was no difference among tests in speed reached during each lap. VO2 was 3.5±0.69, 3.74±0.85 and 3.62±1.19 l·min−1. AEC was 1.04±0.15, 1.08±0.1 and 1.09±0.15 kcal·kg−1·km−1. Finally, post-race BLa levels reached 12.85±3.54, 11.88±4.74 and 12.82±3.6 mmol·l−1. These findings indicate that performance during SPE is not ameliorated by ischemic preconditioning, thereby indicating that IP is not suitable as an ergogenic aid.

Key words

energy cost - oxygen uptake - speed - muscle contraction - oxygen pulse - blood lactate
 

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