The Effects of Simulated Competition on Repeated-sprint Cycling Performance

The Effect of Simulated Competition on Repeated-sprint Cycling Performance and on Measures of Physiological and Psychological Stress.

Sprint cycling performance has been found to be reduced when two sprints were undertaken 12 minutes apart. In a follow-up study, the investigators found evidence to suggest that some of the loss in performance that was experienced in the second sprint was due to a psychological, rather than a physiological, limitation. It is conceivable that this loss in performance would not exist during a competition. The aim of this study is, therefore, to investigate the influence that a competitive environment has on repeated-sprint performance.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Stress
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Simulated competition

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• regular strength/sprint training (at least 2 sessions per week)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Injured or a contraindicative medical condition

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Simulated competition; During the experimental condition, the participants will be competing for a reward, will be given verbal encouragement, and will receive performance feedback.	Other: Simulated competition; During a competition, athletes will typically compete for a reward, against opponents and in the presence of others. This will be replicated in the laboratory.
NO_INTERVENTION: Control; During the control condition, the participants will be asked to sprint without verbal encouragement or any performance feedback.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sprint Power Output	The Lode Excalibur Sport cycle ergometer records power output at 5Hz. Peak power output will be defined as the highest power output recorded. Mean power output will be calculated as the average power output over the 27 s sprint. Comparisons will be made between conditions.	From baseline to completion, ~42 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Heart-rate Variability	Heart-rate variability provides a measure of physiological stress. Recordings will be taken at rest, after the warm-up, and following the sprints. Comparisons will be made between conditions.	From baseline to completion, ~42 days
Salivary Concentration of Alpha Amylase	Alpha amylase is a digestive enzyme found in saliva. Alpha amylase also provides a measure of physiological stress. Recordings will be taken at rest, after the warm-up, and following the sprints. Comparisons will be made between conditions.	From baseline to completion, ~42 days
20 cm Visual Analogue Scale to Assess Anxiety	The scale will range from not at all anxious to very anxious. Participants will be asked to indicate how anxious they feel by place a clear mark on the scale. Measurements will be taken at rest, after the warm-up, and following the sprints. Comparisons will be made between conditions.	From baseline to completion, ~42 days
20 cm Visual Analogue Scale to Assess Self-efficacy	The scale will range from cannot do it at all to highly certain. Participants will be asked about their confidence in their ability to improve on their baseline sprint performance. Measurements will be taken just prior to each sprint. Comparison to baseline.	From baseline to completion, ~42 days
Sport Anxiety Scale-2 - a questionnaire to assess cognitive and somatic anxiety.	Measured once. Correlation will performance. The response for each question carries a score of between 1 and 4. A higher number is reflective of a greater level of anxiety.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: St Mary's University College

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ANTICIPATED): October 10, 2022
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): July 1, 2023
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): July 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 7, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2022
• First Posted (ACTUAL): October 7, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): October 7, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2022
• Last Verified: October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: StMarysUC6

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No