Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2004; 25(3): 235-240
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-45262
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Inertia on Performance and Fatigue Pattern During Repeated Cycle Sprints in Males and Females

G. Falgairette1 , F. Billaut1 , M. Giacomoni1 , S. Ramdani1 , A. Boyadjian1
  • 1Laboratoire Ergonomie Sportive et Performance, Université de Toulon Var, La Garde Cedex, France
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: June 20, 2003

Publication Date:
15 April 2004 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The effect of recovery duration on performance and fatigue pattern during short exercises was studied including and excluding the flywheel inertia. Subjects (11 males and 11 females) performed a force-velocity test to determine their optimal force (fopt). On the following day, subjects performed randomly 4 series of two 8-s sprints against fopt, with 15 s (R15), 30 s (R30), 60 s (R60), and 120 s (R120) recovery between sprints. The cycle (Monark 824 E, Stockholm, Sweden) was equipped with an optical sensor to calculate the revolution velocity of the pedal. For each sprint, peak power (Ppeak), mechanical work (W) and time to reach Ppeak (tPpeak) were calculated including (I) and excluding (NI) the acceleration of the flywheel. For a given sprint, Ppeak and W were greater and tPpeak was lower in I compared to NI condition (p < 0.05). Differences averaged 13 % for Ppeak, 20 % for W, 34 % for tPpeak, and remained constant between sprints 1 and 2. In sprint 2, Ppeak and W were significantly reduced compared to sprint 1 only after R15 and R30 in I and NI (p < 0.05), and no gender differences occurred. In each sprint, Ppeak and W were higher (p < 0.001) and tPpeak was shorter (p < 0.05) in males than in females, and gender differences were the same including or excluding the flywheel inertia. In conclusion, values excluding inertia underestimated mechanical performance and consequently the total energy supply. However, the pattern of fatigue and gender differences in performance and fatigue remained unchanged whatever the condition (I or NI). This result may have practical implications when the flywheel inertia can not be taken into account in the calculation of mechanical work and power output.

Key words

Anaerobic power - recovery - fatigue - inertia - gender

References

  • 1 Ahmaidi S, Granier P, Taoutaou Z, Mercier J, Dubouchaud H, Prefaut C R. Effects of active recovery on plasma lactate and anaerobic power following repeated intensive exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;  28 450-456
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Arsac L M, Belli A, Lacour J R. Muscle function during brief maximal exercise: accurate measurements on a friction-loaded cycle ergometer.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  74 100-106
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Balsom P D, Seger J Y, Sjodin B, Ekblom B. Maximal-intensity intermittent exercise: effect of recovery duration.  Int J Sports Med. 1992;  13 528-533
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Bar-or O, Dotan R, Inbar O, Rothstein A, Karlsson J, Tesh P. Anaerobic capacity and muscle fiber type distribution in man.  Int J Sports Med. 1980;  1 82-85
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Blonc S, Casas H, Duche P, Beaune B, Bedu M. Effect of recovery duration on the force-velocity relationship.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  19 272-276
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Bogdanis G C, Nevill M E, Boobis L H, Lakomy H K. Contribution of phosphocreatine and aerobic metabolism to energy supply during repeated sprint exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1996;  80 876-884
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Bogdanis G C, Nevill M E, Lakomy H K, Boobis L H. Power output and muscle metabolism during and following recovery from 10 and 20 s of maximal sprint exercise in humans.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1998;  163 261-272
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Brooks S, Nevill M E, Meleagros L, Lakomy H KA, Hall G M, Bloom S R, Williams C. The hormonal responses to repetitive brief maximal exercise in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1990;  60 144-148
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Buttelli O, Vandewalle H, Pérès G. The relationship between maximal power and maximal torque-velocity using an electronic ergometer.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  73 479-483
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Cherry P W, Lakomy H K, Boobis L H, Nevill M E. Rapid recovery of power output in females.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1998;  164 79-87
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Cooke W H, Barnes W S. The influence of recovery duration on high intensity exercise performance after oral creatine supplementation.  Can J Appl Physiol. 1997;  22 454-467
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Durnin J VGA, Rahaman M M. The assessment of the amount of fat in the human body from the measurements of skinfold thickness.  Br J Nutr. 1967;  21 681-689
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Esbjörnsson M, Bodin K, Jansson E. Smaller muscle ATP reduction in females than in males by repeated bout of sprint exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 2002;  93 1075-1083
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Esbjörnsson M, Sundberg C J, Norman B, Jansson E. Metabolic response in type I and type II muscle fibers during a 30-s cycle sprint in men and women.  J Appl Physiol. 1999;  87 1326-132
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Gaiga M C, Docherty D. The effect of an aerobic interval training program on intermittent anaerobic performance.  Can J Appl Physiol. 1995;  20 452-464
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Gaitanos G C, Nevill M E, Brooks S, Williams C. Repeated bouts of sprint running after induced alkalosis.  J Sports Sci. 1991;  9 355-370
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Gaitanos G C, Williams C, Boobis L H, Brooks S. Human muscle metabolism during intermittent maximal exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1993;  75 712-719
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Glenmark B, Hedberg G, Jansson E. Change in muscle fibre type from adolescence to adulthood in females and males.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1992;  146 251-259
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Hamilton A L, Nevill M E, Brooks S, Williams C. Physiological responses to maximal intermittent exercise: differences between endurance-trained runners and games players.  J Sports Sci. 1991;  9 371-382
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Jacobs I, Tesch P A, Bar-or O, Karlsson J, Dotan R. Lactate in human skeletal muscle after 10 and 30 s of supramaximal exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1983;  55 365-367
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Komi P, Karlsson J. Skeletal muscle fibre type, enzyme activities and physical performance in young males and females.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1978;  103 210-218
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Lakomy H KA. Measurement of work and power output using friction-loaded cycle ergometers.  Ergonomics. 1986;  29 509-517
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Linossier M T, Dormois D, Fouquet R, Geyssant A, Denis C. Use of the force-velocity test to determine the optimal braking force for a sprint exercise on a friction-loaded cycle ergometer.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  74 420- 427
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Nygaard E. Skeletal muscle fibre characteristics in young females.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1981;  112 299-304
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Odland L M, MacDougall J D, Tarnopolsky M A, Elorriaga A, Borgmann A. Effect of oral creatine supplementation on muscle [PCr] and short-term maximum power output.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;  29 216-219
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Pirnay F, Crielaard J M. Mesure de la puissance anaérobie alactique.  Med Sport. 1979;  53 13-16
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Ruby B C, Robergs R A, Waters D L, Burge M, Mermier C, Stolarczyk L. Effects of estradiol on substrate turnover during exercise in amenorrheic females.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;  29 1160-1169
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Sanchez J, Pequignot J M, Peyrin L, Monod H. Sex differences in the sympatho-adrenal response to isometric exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1980;  45 147-154
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Sargeant A J, Dolan P, Thorne A. Isokinetic measurement of maximal leg force and anaerobic power output in children. In: Ilmarinen J, Välimäki I (eds). Children and Sport. Berlin: Springer 1984: 93-98
    Google Scholar
  • 30 Seck D, Vandewalle H, Decrops N, Monod H. Maximal power and torque-velocity relationship on a cycle ergometer during the acceleration phase of a single all-out exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1995;  70 161-168
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Vandewalle H, Pérès G, Heller J, Panel J, Monod H. Force-velocity relationship and maximal power on a cycle ergometer. Correlation with the height of a vertical jump.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;  56 650-656
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Prof. G. Falgairette

Laboratoire Ergonomie Sportive et Performance · Université de Toulon Var

Avenue de l’Université · BP 132 · 83957 La Garde Cedex · France

Phone: +33 494 142 754

Fax: +33 494 142 278

Email: falgairette@univ-tln.fr

      >