title: Topical application of cream containing nonivamide and nicoboxil does not enhance the performance of experienced cyclists during a 4-km time-trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Topical application of nonivamide-nicoboxil cream to resting legs has been shown to enhance the level of oxygenated haemoglobin in leg muscles 15 min later. Here, we examined whether such application improves the performance of experienced cyclists in a subsequent 4-km time-trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine male cyclists [26 ± 8 years; 176 ± 9 cm; 73.5 ± 12.8 kg; peak oxygen uptake: 50.7 ± 4.0 mL min(-1) kg(-1) (mean ± SD)] performed three 4-km time-trials on an ergometer with either topical application of nonivamide-nicoboxil cream (CREAM) or cream without active components (SHAM) to both their thigh muscles or no application (CONTROL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only the skin temperature immediately before and after the time-trial was higher with cream than SHAM and CONTROL (best p < 0.001, best d = 1.16). All other parameters evaluated, i.e., the average power output during the time-trial (p > 0.05, best d = 0.08), the tissue saturation index of the m. vastus lateralis (p > 0.05, best d = 0.57), cardiac output, heart rate, oxygen uptake, blood lactate concentration, and perceived exertion (p > 0.05, best d = 1.1) were similar under all three conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our present findings reveal that topical application of cream containing nonivamide and nicoboxil to the thighs of cyclists prior to a 4-km time-trial does not improve their power output, saturation of the m. vastus lateralis with oxygen, oxygen uptake, heart rate, cardiac parameters, or perceived level of exertion.
authors.affiliation: Integrative and Experimental Training Science, Department of Sport Science, University of Würzburg, Judenbühlweg 11, 97082, Würzburg, Germany. christoph.zinner@uni-wuerzburg.de.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zinner
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hans-Christer
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.affiliation: Integrative and Experimental Training Science, Department of Sport Science, University of Würzburg, Judenbühlweg 11, 97082, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Billy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sperlich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D013848:Thigh / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D019344:Lactic Acid; C473307:nicoboxil; D002211:Capsaicin; C040937:nonivamide; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Cycling; Finalgon; Near-infrared spectroscopy; Warm-up