title: Effects of active versus passive recovery in sprint cross-country skiing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of an active and a passive recovery protocol on physiological responses and performance between 2 heats in sprint cross-country skiing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten elite male skiers (22±3 y, 184±4 cm, 79±7 kg) undertook 2 experimental test sessions that both consisted of 2 heats with 25 min between start of the first and second heats. The heats were conducted as an 800-m time trial (6°, >3.5 m/s, ~205 s) and included measurements of oxygen uptake (VO2) and accumulated oxygen deficit. The active recovery trial involved 2 min standing/walking, 16 min jogging (58%±5% of VO2peak), and 3 min standing/walking. The passive recovery trial involved 15 min sitting, 3 min walk/jog (~30% of VO2peak), and 3 min standing/walking. Blood lactate concentration and heart rate were monitored throughout the recovery periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The increased 800-m time between heat 1 and heat 2 was trivial after active recovery (effect size [ES]=0.1, P=.64) and small after passive recovery (ES=0.4, P=.14). The 1.2%±2.1% (mean±90% CL) difference between protocols was not significant (ES=0.3, P=.3). In heat 2, peak and average VO2 was increased after the active recovery protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither passive recovery nor running at ~58% of VO2peak between 2 heats changed performance significantly.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Losnegard
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Jostein
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012865:Skiing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid