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Glucocorticoids improve high-intensity exercise performance in humans

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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.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain

    Rafael A. Casuso

  2. Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, 2nd floor, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lars Melskens, Thomas Bruhn & Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg

  3. The Copenhagen Muscle Research Center, Department of Anesthesia, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Niels H. Secher

Authors
  1. Rafael A. Casuso
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  2. Lars Melskens
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  3. Thomas Bruhn
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  4. Niels H. Secher
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  5. Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg.

Additional information

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

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