Abstract
Purpose
It was investigated whether oral dexamethasone (DEX) administration improves exercise performance by reducing the initial rate of muscle fatigue development during dynamic exercise.
Methods
Using a double-blinded placebo controlled randomized crossover design, subjects ingested either 2 × 2 mg of DEX or placebo for five consecutive days. Muscle function was investigated using one-legged kicking exercise and whole body performance was evaluated using a 20-m shuttle run and a 30-m sprint test.
Results
One-legged dynamic knee-extensor exercise time to exhaustion was 29 ± 35 % (mean ± SD) longer (P < 0.05) in DEX compared to Placebo. Likewise, total running distance in the shuttle run test was 19 ± 23 % longer (P < 0.05), whereas 30-m sprint performance was unaltered. During the initial 75 s of dynamic leg extensions, peak force and rate of force development determined from an electrically evoked twitch declined in a similar way in DEX and placebo. Similarly, the EMG root mean square was similar with DEX and placebo treatment.
Conclusion
Short-term dexamethasone administration increases high-intensity one-legged kicking time to exhaustion and 20-m shuttle run performance, although sprint ability and the initial loss of muscular force generating capacity are similar after DEX and placebo.
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Abbreviations
- CNS:
-
Central nervous system
- DEX:
-
Dexamethasone
- EMG:
-
Electromyography
- MVC:
-
Maximal voluntary contraction
- RFD:
-
Rate of force development
- RMS:
-
Root mean square
- VO2max :
-
Maximal oxygen uptake
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Acknowledgments
The present study was supported by Anti-Doping Denmark.
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The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Communicated by Michael Lindinger.
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Casuso, R.A., Melskens, L., Bruhn, T. et al. Glucocorticoids improve high-intensity exercise performance in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 419–424 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2784-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2784-7