Effects of including sprints during prolonged cycling on hormonal and muscular responses and recovery in elite cyclists

Nicki Winfield Almquist, Stian Ellefsen, Øyvind Sandbakk, Bent R Rønnestad, Nicki Winfield Almquist, Stian Ellefsen, Øyvind Sandbakk, Bent R Rønnestad

Abstract

This study investigated the acute effects of including 30-second sprints during prolonged low-intensity cycling on muscular and hormonal responses and recovery in elite cyclists. Twelve male cyclists (VO2max , 73.4 ± 4.0 mL/kg/min) completed a randomized crossover protocol, wherein 4 hours of cycling at 50% of VO2max were performed with and without inclusion of three sets of 3 × 30 seconds maximal sprints (E&S vs E, work-matched). Muscle biopsies (m. vastus lateralis) and blood were sampled at Pre, immediately after (Post) and 3 hours after (3 h) finalizing sessions. E&S led to greater increases in mRNA levels compared with E for markers of fat metabolism (PDK4, Δ-Log2 fold change between E&S and E ± 95%CI Post; 2.1 ± 0.9, Δ3h; 1.3 ± 0.7) and angiogenesis (VEGFA, Δ3h; 0.3 ± 0.3), and greater changes in markers of muscle protein turnover (myostatin, ΔPost; -1.4 ± 1.2, Δ3h; -1.3 ± 1.3; MuRF1, ΔPost; 1.5 ± 1.2, all P < .05). E&S showed decreased mRNA levels for markers of ion transport at 3h (Na+ -K+ α1; -0.6 ± 0.6, CLC1; -1.0 ± 0.8 and NHE1; -0.3 ± 0.2, all P < .05) and blunted responses for a marker of mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α, Post; -0.3 ± 0.3, 3h; -0.4 ± 0.3, P < .05) compared with E E&S and E showed similar endocrine responses, with exceptions of GH and SHBG, where E&S displayed lower responses at Post (GH; -4.1 ± 3.2 μg/L, SHBG; -2.2 ± 1.9 nmol/L, P < .05). Both E&S and E demonstrated complete recovery in isokinetic knee extension torque 24 hours after exercise. In conclusion, we demonstrate E&S to be an effective exercise protocol for elite cyclists, which potentially leads to beneficial adaptations in skeletal muscle without impairing muscle recovery 24 hours after exercise.

Keywords: 30-sec sprints; Elite athletes; aerobic and anaerobic fitness; blood hormones; mRNA; muscular responses; prolonged low-intensity cycling.

Conflict of interest statement

None.

© 2020 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Overview of experimental protocols (two top panels) endurance exercise including sprints (E&S) and work‐matched endurance exercise (E) and detailed description of every hour in E&S (panel A) and E protocols (panel B). Lightnings symbolize isokinetic knee extension, black arrows symbolize muscle biopsy, and blood drops indicate blood sample
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
A and B) Effects of 4 h low‐intensity cycling with (E&S, panel A) or without sprint intervals (E, panel B) on mRNA abundances of markers of mitochondrial function, angiogenesis, ion transport, and protein turnover in m. vastus lateralis of elite cyclists, measured directly after (Post) and 3 h exercise (3 h). Values are log2‐fold changes with 95% CI. C, Differences in responses between E&S and E. Markers of mitochondrial function: peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator‐1α splice 1 (PGC‐1αs1), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), angiogenesis: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and thrombospondin (THBS1). Markers of ion transport: Na+‐K+ α1 (ATP1A1), Na+‐K+ α2 (ATP1A2), and Na+‐K+ β1 (ATP1B1), chloride voltage‐gated channel 1 (CLC‐1), sodium‐hydrogen exchanger 1 (SLC9A1/NHE1). Markers of protein synthesis regulation: insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1), myostatin, muscle ring finger 1 (MuRF1), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator‐1α splice 4 (PGC‐1αs4). * indicates significant (P < .05) difference from pre‐exercise, § indicates significant (P < .05) difference in response between conditions, tendencies to difference in responses are indicated by P‐values. n = 12
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Blood hormone responses to 4‐h low‐intensity exercise with (E&S) or without sprints (E). A, Hormone concentrations in blood measured before (Pre), 20 min after (Post) and 3 h after exercise (3h). B, Differences in absolute changes in blood hormone concentrations between Pre and Post, and Pre and 3h (values are E&S – E). Cortisol, growth hormone (GH), insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1), testosterone, sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG), and testosterone:SHBG ratio. * indicates significant (P < .05) difference from pre‐exercise, § indicates significant (P < .05) difference in response between conditions, mean ± 95% CI, n = 12
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Isokinetic knee extension torque before (Pre), after (Post), 3 h after (3h), and 24 h after exercise (24h). Knee extension was performed at three different speeds: Panel A; 60°·seconds−1, Panel B; 180°· seconds−1, and Panel C; 240°·seconds−1. Mean ± 95% CI, * indicates significant (P < .05) difference from pre‐exercise, § indicates significant (P < .05) difference from E, n = 12

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