This study wished to compare the same physiological responses of elite athletes to a typical
intermediate term anaerobic capacity track running session with those of standing cycling of
similar intensity and duration. Twelve well trained/elite male distance runners completed
maximal running, standing cycling and strength testing sessions; and Intermediate Term
Anaerobic Capacity Sessions (ITACS) in running and standing cycling; each comprising eight
efforts of approximately 30 seconds duration at 90% maximal effort in each mode of activity,
separated by 2 minutes rest.
The experimental sessions took place from the end of November 1996 to the beginning of
March 1997. The subjects were required to attend three maximal experimental sessions,
which were performed on separate days and used for baseline data collection. On completing
these they participated in both running and standing cycling ITACS, performed on separate
days with at least 48 hours between each test protocol. There was complete randomisation of
all test protocols.
Descriptive statistics were determined for all the variables. Independent t-testing was used to
determine if similar temperature and humidity readings were obtained during the maximal
testing for each mode of activity. Paired t-testing was used to compare the differences in
warmup heart rates between the maximal and ITACS, the differences in peak lactates
obtained after each type of ITACS, draw comparisons between heart rate (HR) changes over
time during the ITACS and determine if a difference existed between workloads for the two
modes of activity. It was also used to draw a comparison between the peak BLa values and
ascertain if pre-test creatine kinase (CK) levels were the same for each mode of activity. A
repeated measures one way ANOVA was used to determine if workload reduced over time for
each type of ITACS. A three way ANOVA with repeated measures on one factor (repetition)
was performed on HR response. It was used to determine if there was a difference between
the workload/recovery HR response; if workload/recovery HR values increased over the
duration of each ITACS; and if the workload/recovery HR response over time was mode
specific. A two way ANOVA with repeated measures on one factor (repetition) was
performed on blood lactate (BLa) response. It was used to determine if there was a significant
interaction between the mode of activity and time, if BLa increased over the duration of each
ITACS and if there was an effect of mode on its own on the BLa response. A two way
repeated measures ANOVA was used to ascertain whether there was a difference in CK levels
between the two modes of activity, with Tukey's multiple comparison tests used in post hoc
analyses to show the amount of difference. A linear regression analysis was performed to
determine if BLa response was similar across the duration of each type of ITACS.
The effects of temperature (22.3 ± 1.2 vs 21.1 ± 0.3 °C, run vs cycle, t = -0.94, n = 12, p =
0.36)) and humidity (57 ±4.2 vs 52 ± 1.7%, run versus cycle, t = -1.04, n = 12, p = 0.31) did
not influence any of the results obtained during the ITACS. Nor did differing warmup
intensities (as indicated by heart rate - HR) during the maximal (160 ± 5.7 vs 158 ± 3.1 beats
per minute (bpm), run vs cycle, t = - 0.45, n = 9, p = 0.66) and ITACS (160 ± 3.6 vs 152 ± 3.1
bpm, run vs cycle, t = -2.81, n = 9, p = 0.02). An equal test preparation was confirmed by the
warmup blood lactate (BLa) levels, which were not significantly different between the
exercise modes for both the maximal (11.0 ±0.6 vs 11.8 ± 1.0 mmol-l1, run vs cycle, t = 2.26,
ii
n = 10, p =0.23) and ITACS (4.2 ± 0.7 vs 4.2 ± 0.6 mmol-1 ', run vs cycle, t = 0.27, n = 10, p
= 0.796).
A significantly higher workload was achieved during the running ITACS as compared to the
standing cycling ITACS (105 ± 1.1 vs 89 ±2.9 %, run vs cycle, t = 10.45, n = 12, p<0.0005).
The increase in workload/recovery HR response and their changes as each type of ITACS
progressed was not mode specific [F(l,40) = 0.94, p > 0.05]. Those subjects who possessed
high BLa concentrations performed less work on the cycle ergometer. There was a strong
negative relationship for average workloads and BLa accumulation for the standing cycling
exercise (Spearmans rho = -0.799, n = 11, p<0.005) suggesting that BLa accumulation was a
limiting factor in work production. The increase in BLa levels was not mode specific F(l,20)
= 1.36, p > 0.05]. The BLa response was comparatively similar because the rate of increase in
BLa accumulation and peak BLa values (19.7 vs 16.9 mmol-l'1, cycle vs run, t = 2.1, n = 11, p
= 0.06) were not significantly different between the modes of activity. Mode in conjunction
with time affected standing cycling BLa response to a greater extent than running BLa levels
[F(4.80) =3.929, p <. 0.05]. Standing cycling BLa concentrations were significantly
negatively correlated with knee extension peak torque (Spearmans rho = - 0.771, n = 11, p <
0.01) and total work (Spearmans rho = - 0.802, n = 11, p < 0.01) measurements. In running
they were negatively correlated with knee flexion total work measurements (Spearman rho = -
0.685, n = 11, p < 0.05) These findings suggest that BLa accumulation occurs from different
muscle fibre recruitment patterns. Less work was performed in isokinetic knee extension
following standing cycling as compared to running (2234 ± 68.4 vs 2462 ± 78.9 Nm, t = 2.23,
n = 11, p < 0.05) suggesting that standing cycling is more fatiguing on the quadriceps than
running. There was no difference in the knee flexion testing (1799 ± 89.6 vs 1785 ± 69.2,
cycle vs run, t = 2.23, n = 11, p = 0.96). There was a significant difference in mean creatine
kinase (CK) activity between the two modes 24 hours after completing the ITACS (450 ±
73.2 vs 320 ± 46.5 I/U, running vs cycle, F = 6.44, df = 1,17, p < 0.01). There was a
significantly greater increase in CK activity and therefore muscle damage, following the
running (mean increase of 190 I/U) as compared to the standing cycling session (mean
increase of 44.0 I/U).
In terms of reducing the risk of injury, achieving a similar cardiovascular response and
achieving comparable BLa accumulation (even though mechanism/s of accumulation may be
different) standing cycling appears to be is a satisfactory substitute for running during an
ITACS. The results of this research strengthen the concept of utilising a simulated mode of
activity as a substitute for the primary activity in order to maximise transfer effects,
providing there is a careful balance between the specific training and the near specific
training. The differing physiological responses between the exercise modes (ie- different
muscle fibre recruitment patterns, different workload capacity, different CK measures)
suggest that standing cycling cannot act as a total/comprehensive replacement for running. A
training study is warranted to further investigate the findings of this research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218841 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Clews, Clayton, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Human & Biomedical Sciences |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Clayton Clews |
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