Different effects of two regeneration regimens on immunological parameters in cyclists.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of 4-d active regeneration of different duration on immunological parameters after 2 wk of intensive training.


METHODS
In a cross-over design 11 male cyclists conducted 13 d of intensive training followed by 4 d of low-intensity cycling for either 1 or 3 h each day (sequence randomized). Before the intensive training (test 1), between training and regeneration (test 2), and after the regeneration period (test 3), subjects were tested in the lab: venous blood sampling (immunological parameters; flow cytometry) and incremental exercise stage test on acycle ergometer.


RESULTS
Average values of lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells decreased significantly from test 1 to test 2 and were influenced differently by 1- and 3-h cycling (P = 0.018 and 0.039, respectively); 1-h cycling restored values from test 1, whereas 3 h led to a further decrease in lymphocyte and NK cell concentrations. This pattern was resembled by the courses of maximal heart rate and maximal blood lactate concentration during incremental cycling exercise. In leukocytes, tests 2 and 3 differed significantly from test 1 (P = 0.048 and 0.031, respectively), but there was no significant effect of the regeneration duration (P = 039). Neither the concentration of neutrophils nor the neutrophil oxidative burst was significantly influenced by the training period or by one of the regeneration phases.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results indicate that low-intensity regenerative training sessions in cyclists should preferably be conducted for shorter durations than 3 h. It was demonstrated that 4-d cycling of 1 h each day reversed ergometric and immunological changes indicative of fatigue after 2 wk of intensive training.
Meyer
Tim
T
Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, University of Saarland, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Saarbrücken, Germany. t.meyer@rz.uni-sb.de
Faude
Oliver
O
Urhausen
Axel
A
Scharhag
Jürgen
J
Kindermann
Wilfried
W
D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016552:Ergometry; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000502:physiology
D019344:Lactic Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone