Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Neuromuscular and perceptual responses during repeated cycling sprints—usefulness of a “hypoxic to normoxic” recovery approach

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

We investigated the consequence of varying hypoxia severity during an initial set of repeated cycling sprints on performance, neuromuscular fatigability, and exercise-related sensations during a subsequent set of repeated sprints in normoxia.

Methods

Nine active males performed ten 4-s sprints (recovery = 30 s) at sea level (SL; FiO2 ~ 0.21), moderate (MH; FiO2 ~ 0.17) or severe normobaric hypoxia (SH; FiO2 ~ 0.13). This was followed, after 8 min of passive recovery, by five 4-s sprints (recovery = 30 s) in normoxia.

Results

Mean power decrement during Sprint 10 was exacerbated in SH compared to SL and MH (− 34 ± 12%, − 22 ± 13%, − 25 ± 14%, respectively, p < 0.05). Sprint performance during Sprint 11 recovered to that of Sprint 1 in all conditions (p = 0.267). All exercise-related sensations at Sprint 11 recovered significantly compared to Sprint 1, with no difference for Set 2 (p > 0.05). Ratings of overall perceived discomfort, difficulty breathing, and limb discomfort were exacerbated during Set 1 in SH versus SL (p < 0.05). Compared to SL, the averaged MPO value for Set 2 was 5.5 ± 3.0% (p = 0.003) lower in SH. Maximal voluntary force and twitch torque decreased similarly in all conditions immediately after Set 1 (p < 0.05), without further alterations after Set 2. Peripheral and cortical voluntary activation values did not change (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Exercise-related sensations, rather than neuromuscular function integrity, may play a pivotal role in influencing performance of repeated sprints and its recovery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Db:

Doublet

EMG:

Electromyography

FiO2 :

Fraction of inspired oxygen

MH:

Moderate hypoxia

MPO:

Mean power output

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

PMN:

Peripheral motor nerve

RMS:

Root mean square

RSA:

Repeated-sprint ability

SL:

Sea level

SH:

Severe hypoxia

SpO2 :

Arterial oxygen saturation

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

VA:

Voluntary activation

References

  • Amann M, Dempsey JA (2008) Locomotor muscle fatigue modifies central motor drive in healthy humans and imposes a limitation to exercise performance. J Physiol 586(1):161–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amann M, Kayser B (2009) Nervous system function during exercise in hypoxia. High Alt Med Biol 10(2):149–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amann M, Pegelow DF, Jacques AJ, Dempsey JA (2007a) Inspiratory muscle work in acute hypoxia influences locomotor muscle fatigue and exercise performance of healthy humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 293(5):R2036–R2045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amann M, Romer LM, Subudhi AW, Pegelow DF, Dempsey JA (2007b) Severity of arterial hypoxaemia affects the relative contributions of peripheral muscle fatigue to exercise performance in healthy humans. J Physiol 581(1):389–403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arbogast S, Vassilakopoulos T, Darques JL, Duvauchelle JB, Jammes Y (2000) Influence of oxygen supply on activation of group IV muscle afferents after low-frequency muscle stimulation. Muscle Nerve 23(8):1187–1193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Billaut F, Bishop DJ (2012) Mechanical work accounts for sex differences in fatigue during repeated sprints. Eur J Appl Physiol 112(4):1429–1436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Billaut F, Kerris JP, Rodriguez RF, Martin DT, Gore CJ, Bishop DJ (2013) Interaction of central and peripheral factors during repeated sprints at different levels of arterial O2 saturation. PLoS ONE 8(10):e77297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop D, Lawrence S, Spencer M (2003) Predictors of repeated-sprint ability in elite female hockey players. J Sci Med Sport 6(2):199–209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brocherie F, Girard O, Faiss R, Millet GP (2017) Effects of repeated-sprint training in hypoxia on sea-level performance: a meta-analysis. Sports Med 47(8):1651–1660. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0685-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christian RJ, Bishop D, Girard O, Billaut F (2014) The role of sense of effort on self-selected cycling power output. Front Physiol 5:115

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Collins BW, Pearcey GE, Buckle NC, Power KE, Button DC (2018) Neuromuscular fatigue during repeated sprint exercise: underlying physiology and methodological considerations. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 43(11):1166–1175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del Vecchio A, Negro F, Felici F, Farina D (2017) Associations between motor unit action potential parameters and surface EMG features. J Appl Physiol 123(4):835–843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enoka RM, Duchateau J (2016) Translating fatigue to human performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 48(11):2228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Pena E, Lucertini F, Ditroilo M (2009) A maximal isokinetic pedalling exercise for EMG normalization in cycling. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 19(3):e162–e170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gandevia SC (2001) Spinal and supraspinal factors in human muscle fatigue. Physiol Rev 81(4):1725–1789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Girard O, Mendez-Villanueva A, Bishop D (2011) Repeated-sprint ability—Part I. Sports Med 41(8):673–694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Girard O, Bishop DJ, Racinais S (2013) Neuromuscular adjustments of the quadriceps muscle after repeated cycling sprints. PLoS ONE 8(5):e61793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Girard O, Brocherie F, Morin J-B, Millet GP (2015) Neuro-mechanical determinants of repeated treadmill sprints-Usefulness of an “hypoxic to normoxic recovery” approach. Front Physiol 6:260

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Girard O, Billaut F, Christian RJ, Bradley PS, Bishop DJ (2017) Exercise-related sensations contribute to decrease power during repeated cycle sprints with limited influence on neural drive. Eur J Appl Physiol 117(11):2171–2179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodall S, Romer L, Ross E (2009) Voluntary activation of human knee extensors measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Exp Physiol 94(9):995–1004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodall S, González-Alonso J, Ali L, Ross EZ, Romer LM (2012) Supraspinal fatigue after normoxic and hypoxic exercise in humans. J Physiol 590(11):2767–2782

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodall S, Charlton K, Howatson G, Thomas K (2015) Neuromuscular fatigability during repeated-sprint exercise in male athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 47(3):528–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goods PS, Dawson BT, Landers GJ, Gore CJ, Peeling P (2014) Effect of different simulated altitudes on repeat-sprint performance in team-sport athletes. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 9(5):857–862

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert R, Gandevia S (1999) Twitch interpolation in human muscles: mechanisms and implications for measurement of voluntary activation. J Neurophysiol 82(5):2271–2283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hureau TJ, Olivier N, Millet GY, Meste O, Blain GM (2014) Exercise performance is regulated during repeated sprints to limit the development of peripheral fatigue beyond a critical threshold. Exp Physiol 99(7):951–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hureau TJ, Ducrocq GP, Blain GM (2016) Peripheral and central fatigue development during all-out repeated cycling sprints. Med Sci Sports Exerc 48(3):391–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karatzaferi C, De Haan A, Van Mechelen W, Sargeant A (2001) Metabolic changes in single human muscle fibres during brief maximal exercise. Exp Physiol 86(3):411–415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marcora SM, Staiano W (2010) The limit to exercise tolerance in humans: mind over muscle? Eur J Appl Physiol 109(4):763–770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin J, Spirduso W (2001) Determinants of maximal cycling power: crank length, pedaling rate and pedal speed. Eur J Appl Physiol 84(5):413–418

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendez-Villanueva A, Hamer P, Bishop D (2007) Fatigue responses during repeated sprints matched for initial mechanical output. Med Sci Sports Exerc 39(12):2219–2225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendez-Villanueva A, Edge J, Suriano R, Hamer P, Bishop D (2012) The recovery of repeated-sprint exercise is associated with PCr resynthesis, while muscle pH and EMG amplitude remain depressed. PLoS ONE 7(12):e51977

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millet GY, Muthalib M, Jubeau M, Laursen PB, Nosaka K (2012) Severe hypoxia affects exercise performance independently of afferent feedback and peripheral fatigue. J Appl Physiol 112(8):1335–1344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noakes TDO (2012) Fatigue is a brain-derived emotion that regulates the exercise behavior to ensure the protection of whole body homeostasis. Front Physiol 3:82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearcey GE, Murphy JR, Behm DG, Hay DC, Power KE, Button DC (2015) Neuromuscular fatigue of the knee extensors during repeated maximal intensity intermittent-sprints on a cycle ergometer. Muscle Nerve 51(4):569–579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrey S, Rupp T (2009) Altitude-induced changes in muscle contractile properties. High Alt Med Biol 10(2):175–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rothwell J (1997) Techniques and mechanisms of action of transcranial stimulation of the human motor cortex. J Neurosci Methods 74(2):113–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sidhu SK, Bentley DJ, Carroll TJ (2009) Cortical voluntary activation of the human knee extensors can be reliably estimated using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Muscle Nerve 39(2):186–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweeting AJ, Billaut F, Varley MC, Rodriguez RF, Hopkins WG, Aughey RJ (2017) Variations in hypoxia impairs muscle oxygenation and performance during simulated team-sport running. Front Physiol 8:80

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JL (2009) Point: counterpoint: the interpolated twitch does/does not provide a valid measure of the voluntary activation of muscle. J Appl Physiol 107(1):354–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd G, Taylor JL, Butler JE, Martin PG, Gorman RB, Gandevia SC (2007) Use of motor cortex stimulation to measure simultaneously the changes in dynamic muscle properties and voluntary activation in human muscles. J Appl Physiol 102(5):1756–1766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verges S, Maffiuletti NA, Kerherve H, Decorte N, Wuyam B, Millet GY (2009) Comparison of electrical and magnetic stimulations to assess quadriceps muscle function. J Appl Physiol 106(2):701–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the subjects for their participation in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Murdoch Applied Sports Science (MASS) Laboratory, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Jacky Soo

  2. Département de Kinésiologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

    François Billaut

  3. Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

    David J. Bishop & Ryan J. Christian

  4. Athlete Health and Performance Research Center, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar

    Ryan J. Christian & Olivier Girard

  5. School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia

    Olivier Girard

Authors
  1. Jacky Soo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. François Billaut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David J. Bishop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ryan J. Christian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Olivier Girard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

OG, RC, DB and FB conceived and designed research. RC and OG conducted experiments. JS and OG analysed the data. JS and OG wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olivier Girard.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Communicated by Guido Ferretti.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Soo, J., Billaut, F., Bishop, D.J. et al. Neuromuscular and perceptual responses during repeated cycling sprints—usefulness of a “hypoxic to normoxic” recovery approach. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 883–896 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04327-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04327-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation