EFFECTS OF ACTIVE RECOVERY ON POWER OUTPUT DURING REPEATED MAXIMAL SPRINT CYCLING

The effects of active recovery on metabolic and cardiorespiratory resp onses and power output were examined during repeated sprints. Male sub jects (n = 13) performed two maximal 30-s cycle ergometer sprints, 4 m in apart, on two separate occasions with either an active [cycling at 40 (1)% of maximal oxygen uptake; mean (SEM)] or passive recovery. Act ive recovery resulted in a significantly higher mean power output ((W) over bar) during sprint 2, compared with passive recovery [(W) over b ar] 603 (17) W and 589 (15) W, P < 0.05]. This improvement was totally attributed to a 3.1 (1.0)% higher power generation during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 following the active recovery (P < 0.05), since powe r output during the last 20 s sprint 2 was the same after both recover ies. Despite the higher power output during sprint 2 after active reco very, no differences were observed between conditions in venous blood lactate and pH, but peak plasma ammonia was significantly higher in th e active recovery condition [205 (23) vs 170 (20) mu mol . l(-1); P < 0.05]. No differences were found between active and passive recovery i n terms of changes in plasma volume or arterial blood pressure through out the test. However, heart rate between the two 30-s sprints and oxy gen uptake during the second sprint were higher for the active compare d with passive recovery [148 (3) vs 130 (4) beats . min(-1) P < 0.01) and 3.3 (0.1) vs 2.8 (0.1) l . min(-1); P < 0.01]. These data suggest that recovery of power output during repeated sprint exercise is enhan ced when low-intensity exercise is performed between sprints. The bene ficial effects of an active recovery are possibly mediated by an incre ased blood flow to the previously exercised muscle.