Performance in all-out intermittent short-duration exercise bouts: active vs passive recovery

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of recovery type on intermittent exercise performance. Fifteen physically active male subjects performed two intermittent exercises on two occasions. The intermittent exercises involved ten all-out 10-s cycling sprints interspersed with 30 seconds of active or passive recovery. The sprint bouts were carried out on an cycle ergometer, loaded to 0.075 kp.kg-1 of body mass and were separated either by 30 seconds of active recovery at a work rate of 1 kp and at a frequency of 60 rpm or by 30 seconds of rest on the cycle saddle. Peak and Mean power output were recorded for each of the ten bouts. An exponential regression curve was fi tted to the ten Peak Power and the ten Mean Power points and a Fatigue Index was determined. Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures was used to compare bouts and recoveries. Statistical signifi cance was set at p < 0.05. There were no signifi cant differences between passive and active recovery in terms of Peak Power (9.0±1.3 vs. 9.2±1.3 W.kg-1, p=0.11), Mean Power (7.3±1.3 vs. 7.1±1.2 W.kg-1, p=0.08), Fatigue Index for Peak Power (29±9 vs. 27±8 %, p=0.13) or Fatigue Index for Mean Power (34±11 vs. 34±10 %, p=0.43). Therefore, during short bouts of high-intensity intermittent exercise, active recovery does not seem to improve performance. These results suggest that performance during short bout of high-intensity intermittent exercise is not infl uenced by recovery type.