Effects of Combined Interventions to Optimize Recovery During High-intensity Exercises in Healthy Adults

The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects a complex recovery intervention during the breaks of a repeated sprint test on exercise performance compared to placebo and control conditions. The enhanced recovery package (ERP) includes neck cooling with an iced gel pad, drinking a 6% CHO solution, mouth-rinsing with a 10% CHO, 6 mg･kg -1 caffeine solution, performing submaximal squats and hyperventilating a hyperoxic mixture; all applied in each 3-min break in-between the six 30-s sprints. This intervention will be compared to a placebo and a control condition.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

ETH Zürich, Exercise Physiology Lab

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8057, Switzerland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Informed Consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form)
Healthy
Male
Age: 18-40 years
Body-Mass-Index (BMI): 18.5-24.9 kg･m-2
Trained individuals: max. Power output ≥ 4.0 Watts･kg-1
Non-smoking
Willingness to adhere to the study rules

Exclusion criteria

Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse
Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participants
Previous enrolment into the current study
Intake of medications affecting performance or the respiratory, cardiovascular or neuromuscular system
Acute or chronic illness affecting performance or the respiratory, cardiovascular or neuromuscular system

Treatment and study plan

ERP

Other

The ERP intervention is applied in a randomized and counter-balanced order across visits 2-4 in each 3-min break in-between the six 30-s sprints, with one intervention per visit. The order and timing of the constituents of the interventions will be strictly constant within and between participants.

ERP: 1) neck cooling with an iced gel pad, 2) drinking a ∼ 6% CHO solution, 3) mouth-rinsing with a ∼10% CHO, ∼6 mg ･ kg -1 caffeine solution, 4) performing submaximal squats and 5) hyperventilating a hyperoxic mixture

Placebo

Other

The control intervention is applied in a randomized and counter-balanced order across visits 2-4 in each 3-min break in-between the six 30-s sprints, with one intervention per visit. The order and timing of the constituents of the interventions will be strictly constant within and between participants.

neck "cooling" with room temperature gel pack, 2) drinking an artificially sweetened solution, 3) mouth-rinsing with artificially sweetened solution (containing no caffeine), 4) performing unloaded squat manoeuvres, 5) deep breaths with room air

Primary outcomes

Change in mean power output

Time frame: through study completion, an expected average of 3 weeks per participant

Measured over the six 30s high-intensity cycling sprints in each of the three conditions. Mean power mirrors the body's ability to generate muscle power and physical energy. Any meaningful effects of the recovery interventions will eventually translate into a higher power output.
Change in fatigue index

Time frame: through study completion, an expected average of 3 weeks per participant

Fatigue index = drop in power output from the beginning to the end a 30s sprint test. The change in this index will be calculated from the 1st to the 6th sprint test in each condition.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2020
Primary completion: 2021
Study completion: 2021
First posted: Aug 11, 2020
Registry last updated: Jul 2, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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