Recovery Methodologies and High Intensity Interval Training

The purpose of this study was to determine recovery from Tabata bodyweight high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise using different recovery assessment methodologies across 24- and 48-hour time intervals. Participants (23.2 ± 3.1 years old, 163.1 ± 19.9 lbs., and 22.8 ± 9.6 % body fat) consisted of 3 females and 7 males (n=10) Individuals who were recreationally trained (4+ days per week, 30+ minutes per day at moderate to vigorous intensity) and conducted both Trial A (24-hours between HIIT sessions) and Trial B (48-hours between HIIT sessions). Before and during each session, heart rate, countermovement jump, perceptual, and psychological measures were recorded. There were two statistically significant results. The first was the Perceived Recovery Status scale (PRS) for both trials (A, p = 0.005. B, p = 0.007) and the second was the Brunel Mood Scale assessment within Trial B (p = 0.012). These results support the assertion that assessment of perceptions of recovery are sensitive methodologies in measuring recovery from Tabata bodyweight HIIT exercise

Comparison of Post-Activation Potentiating Stimuli on Jump and Sprint Performance

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is a phenomenon characterized by improved muscle performance based on the previous contractile activity of the muscle. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different potentiating stimuli on jump and sprint performance in 13 resistance trained, college-aged men and women. After determining back squat 1 repetition max, subjects returned for testing on separate days to complete one of four interventions (dynamic resistance, weighted plyometric, isometric, or control) in a randomized order. A standardized warmup was performed, followed by a baseline countermovement jump (CMJ) and 20m sprint. Following warm-up and baseline measurements, subjects performed one of the four experimental conditions. CMJ and 20m sprint measurements were completed again at 20-seconds, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20-minutes. Results revealed significantly faster 0-20m sprint times (p \u3c .05) at the 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20-minute time points compared to baseline and 20-second time points. Significantly faster 0-20m sprint times (p \u3c .05) were also shown for the squat intervention compared to control at 4-minutes, the plyometric and squat intervention compared to control at 8-minutes, the isometric intervention compared to control at 12 and 16- minutes, and the isometric intervention compared to the squat at 20-minutes. These findings indicate that while all PAP stimuli utilized can be effective at improving sprint performance, specific optimal time points may exist

Establishing the Learning Effect of Repeated Wingate Anaerobic Tests

The Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) is a recognized and well established tool used to measure power output, muscular endurance, and fatigue. While litreature involving WAnT is plentiful, research addressing training effects within WAnT is limited. Previous studies have addressed changes in power output during repeated trials, however, to our knowledge multiple repeated trials over time to establish optimal learned effect has not been addressed. Past published studies using WAnT have incoporated various familiarization trails to account for the learned impact on performance (1, 2, 4). If an optimal number were established to produce a learned response the validity of future WAnT research may be improved