Cycling-based repeat sprint training in the heat enhances running performance in team sport players

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5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Applying heat training interventions in a team sports setting remains challenging. This study investigated the effects of integrating short-term, repeat sprint heat training with passive heat exposure on running performance and general conditioning in team sport players. Thirty male club-level Australian Football players were assigned randomly to: Passive + Active Heat (PAH; n = 10), Active Heat (AH; n = 10) or Control (CON; n = 10) to complete 6 × 40 min high-intensity cycling training sessions over 12 days in 35°C (PAH and AH) or 18°C (CON), 50% RH in parallel with mid-season sports-specific training and games. Players in PAH were exposed to 20 min pre-exercise passive heat. Physiological adaptation and running capacity were assessed via a treadmill submaximal heat stress test followed by a time-to-exhaustion run in 35°C, 50% RH. Running capacity increased by 26% ± 8% PAH (0.88, ±0.23; standardised mean, ± 90% confidence limits), 29% ± 12% AH (1.23, ±0.45) and 10% ± 11% CON (0.45, ±0.48) compared with baseline. Both PAH (0.52, ±0.42; standardised mean, ± 90% confidence limits) and AH (0.35, ±0.57) conditions yielded a greater improvement in running capacity than CON. Physiological and perceptual measures remained relatively unchanged between baseline and post-intervention heat stress tests, within and between conditions. When thermal adaptation is not a direct priority, short-term, repeat effort high-intensity cycling in hot conditions combined with sports-specific training can further enhance running performance in team sport players. Six heat exposures across 12-days should improve running performance while minimising lower limb load and cumulative fatigue for team sports players. Highlights Short-duration high-intensity intermittent heat training can be successfully integrated with sport-specific training during the competitive season. When acquiring heat acclimation is not a direct priority, heat-based training offers a practical and time efficient method for enhancing aerobic conditioning in team sport players. In state-level team sport players, the perceived benefits of engaging heat training may complement increases in training load and possibly underlying thermal/physiological adaptations. Implementing a running-based performance trial either side of cycling-based heat training can evaluate the degree of transfer into a sports-specific environment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)695-704
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Journal of Sport Science
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 May 2021

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