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Effects of active recovery between series on performance during an intermittent exercise model in young endurance athletes

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Abstract

The purpose of our study was to compare time to exhaustion (tlim) and time spent at a high level of oxygen uptake (V̇O2) during two high-intensity short intermittent exercises (30 s-30 s) realized with or without series. Eleven young endurance-trained athletes [16.6 (0.4) years] took part in three field tests until exhaustion: (1) a maximal graded test to measure their maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max); (2) and (3) two randomized intermittent exercises (30 s at 110% of MAV alternated with 30 s at 50% of MAV): one alternating repetitions non-stop (IE) and another including 4 min recovery every six repetitions (IEs). The mean tlim measured during IEs was significantly longer than IE [respectively 960.0 (102.0) s vs 621.8 (56.2) s]. The time spent at V̇O2max(tV̇O2max) and the time spent above 90% of V̇O2max(t90%V̇O2max) did not differ significantly according to the type of exercise: with or without series [respectively tV̇O2max was 158.2 (59.7) s vs 178.0 (56.5) s and t90%V̇O2max was 290.4 (84.3) s vs 345.0 (61.6) s] but when expressed as a relative value, t90%V̇O2max during IEs was significantly lower than during IE [respectively 36.4 (10.4)% tlim vs 58.3 (8.7)% tlim]. Despite a significant decrease (P<0.005) of time to achieve 90% of V̇O2max at the start of each series during IEs [respectively 165.0 (43.1) s for the first series and 82.5 (15.8) s for the second series (n=6)] the time spent under 90% of V̇O2max limited the t90%V̇O2max during each series. In conclusion, our results showed that intermittent exercise with series does not permit an increase in the time spent at a high level of V̇O2; however, the athletes performed more repetitions of short intense exercise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory “Motricité, Interactions, Performance”, UFR STAPS, 25 bis bd Guy Mollet, BP 72206, 44322 , Nantes Cedex 3, France

    Magaly Tardieu-Berger, Delphine Thevenet & Jacques Prioux

  2. Laboratory “Physiologie et biomécanique de l’exercice musculaire”, UFRAPS, Université de Rennes 2, Campus la Harpe, 2 av Charles Tillon, CS 24414, 35044, Rennes Cedex, France

    Hassane Zouhal

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  1. Magaly Tardieu-Berger
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  2. Delphine Thevenet
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  3. Hassane Zouhal
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  4. Jacques Prioux
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Correspondence to Magaly Tardieu-Berger.

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Tardieu-Berger, M., Thevenet, D., Zouhal, H. et al. Effects of active recovery between series on performance during an intermittent exercise model in young endurance athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 93, 145–152 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1189-z

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