title: A Comparison of Different Modes of Morning Priming Exercise on Afternoon Performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of different modes of morning (AM) exercise on afternoon (PM) performance and salivary hormone responses in professional rugby union players.
  
  
  METHODS
  On 4 occasions (randomized, crossover design), 15 professional rugby players provided AM (~8 AM) and PM (~2 PM) saliva samples before PM assessments of countermovement-jump height, reaction time, and repeated-sprint ability. Control (passive rest), weights (bench press: 5 × 10 repetitions, 75% 1-repetition maximum, 90-s intraset recovery), cycling (6 × 6-s maximal sprint cycling, 7.5% body mass load, 54-s intraset recovery), and running (6 × 40-m maximal sprints, 20-s intraset recovery) interventions preceded (~5 h) PM testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PM sprint performance improved (P < .05) after weights (>0.15 ± 0.19 s, >2.04% ± 2.46%) and running (>0.15 ± 0.17 s, >2.12% ± 2.22%) but not cycling (P > .05). PM jump height increased after cycling (0.012 ± 0.009 m, 2.31% ± 1.76%, P < .001) and running (0.020 ± 0.009 m, 3.90% ± 1.79%, P < .001) but not weights (P = .936). Reaction time remained unchanged between trials (P = .379). Relative to control (131 ± 21 pg/mL), PM testosterone was greater in weights (21 ± 23 pg/mL, 17% ± 18%, P = .002) and running (28 ± 26 pg/mL, 22% ± 20%, P = .001) but not cycling (P = .072). Salivary cortisol was unaffected by AM exercise (P = .540).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All modes of AM exercise improved at least 1 marker of PM performance, but running appeared the most beneficial to professional rugby union players. A rationale therefore exists for preceding PM competition with AM exercise.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Aden
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bracken
authors.forename: Christian J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giroud
authors.forename: Liam P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kilduff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: ergogenic; hormone; potentiation; rugby