title: Passive recovery is superior to active recovery during a high-intensity shock microcycle.
abstract: The purpose was to examine the effects of a 2-week high-intensity shock microcycle on maximal oxygen consumption and parameters of exercise performance in junior triathletes on the one hand and to evaluate the long-term effects of active (A) vs. passive (P) recovery on the other hand. Sixteen healthy junior triathletes participated in the study. For the assignment to the A or P group, the subjects were matched according to age and performance. Within 2 weeks, a total of 15 high-intensity interval sessions within three 3-day training blocks were performed. Before and 1 week after the last training session, the athletes performed a ramp test to determine V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, a time trial (TT) and a Wingate test. Furthermore, total hemoglobin (Hb) mass was determined. The results of the whole group, independent of the arrangement of recovery, were analyzed at first; second, the A and P groups were analyzed separately. Peak power output (PPO) during the ramp test and TT performance significantly increased in the whole group. The comparison of the 2 groups revealed increases for the mentioned parameters and for V[Combining Dot Above]O2 and power output at VT2 for the P group only. The V[Combining Dot Above]O2max did not change. Wingate performance increased in the A group only. The tHb mass slightly decreased. The main finding of this study was that a 14-day shock microcycle is able to improve TT performance and PPO in junior triathletes in a short period of time. Furthermore, not only the intensity but also the arrangement of interval training seems to be important as well, because only the P group showed improvements in endurance performance, despite a slightly lower training volume. These findings might be relevant for future arrangements of high-intensity interval training.
authors: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany. Wahl@dshs-koeln.de
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Wahl
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Zinner
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Grosskopf
authors: Roman
authors: R
authors: Rossmann
authors: Wilhelm
authors: W
authors: Bloch
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Mester
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009042:Motivation; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology