Training and Testing

Abstract

ssss The recovery process in sport plays an essential role in de-termining subsequent athletic performance. This study investi-gated the effectiveness of different recovery interventions after maximal exercise. Eighteen trained male cyclists initially under-took an incremental test to determine maximal oxygen con-sumption. The four recovery interventions tested were: passive, active (50 % maximal oxygen uptake), massage, and combined (involving active and massage components). All test sessions were separated by 2 to 3 days. During intervention trials sub-jects performed two simulated 5 km maximal effort cycling tests (T 1 and T 2) separated by a 20 min recovery. Performance time for the tests (t 1 , t 2); blood lactate (BLa) during T 1 , T 2 , and every 3 min during recovery; and heart rate (HR) during the recovery intervention and T 2 were recorded. Combined recovery was found to be better than passive (P < 0.01) and either active or massage (P < 0.05) in maintenance of performance time during T 2 . Active recovery was the most effective intervention for re-moving BLa at minutes 9 and 12, BLa removal during combined recovery was significantly better than passive at minute 3, and significantly better than passive, active, and massage at minute 15. In conclusion, combined recovery was the most efficient in-tervention for maintaining maximal performance time during T2, and active recovery was the best intervention for removing BLa.