Abstract
Previous studies investigating the impact of circadian rhythms on performance
during anaerobic cycle leg exercise have yielded conflicting results. The purpose
of the present investigation was firstly, to determine the effect of the time
of day on anaerobic performance during a force-velocity test on a cycle ergometer
(F-V) and the Wingate test and secondly, to relate any changes in anaerobic performance
to the circadian rhythm in oral temperature. Nineteen subjects volunteered to
take part in the study. In a balanced and randomized study design, subjects were
measured for maximal power (Pmax) (force-velocity test), peak power (Ppeak) and mean power (Pmean) (Wingate test) on six separate occasions. These were at 02 : 00, 06 : 00, 10
: 00, 14 : 00, 18 : 00 and 22 : 00 hours on separate days. There was an interval
of 28 h between two successive tests. Oral temperature and body mass were measured
before each test. Body mass did not vary during the day but a significant time
of day effect was observed for the oral temperature with an acrophase at 18
: 22 ± 00 : 34 hours. A significant circadian rhythm was found for Pmax with an acrophase at 17 : 10 ± 00 : 52 hours and an amplitude of 7 %. A time-of-day
effect was significant for F0 and V0. Also a significant circadian rhythm was observed for Ppeak with an acrophase at 17 : 24 ± 00 : 36 hours and an amplitude of 7.6 % and
for Pmean with an acrophase at 18 : 00 ± 01 : 01 hours and an amplitude of 11.3 %.
The results indicated that oral temperature, Ppeak, Pmean and Pmax varied concomitantly during the day. These results suggest that there was a circadian
rhythm in anaerobic performance during cycle tests. The recording of oral temperature
allows one to estimate the time of occurrence of maximal and minimal values in
the circadian rhythm of anaerobic performance.
Key words
Biorhythmicity - peak power - mean power - maximal power
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D. Davenne
Centre de Recherches en Activités Physiques et Sportives UPRES EA 2131
Université de Basse-Normandie · UFR STAPS 14032 Caen Cedex · France ·
Phone: +33 231 567283.
Fax: +33 231 567282.
Email: davenne@staps.unicaen.fr
