The Effects of Simulated Competition on Repeated-sprint Cycling Performance

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Sprint cycling performance has been found to be reduced when two sprints were undertaken 12 minutes apart. In a follow-up study, the investigators found evidence to suggest that some of the loss in performance that was experienced in the second sprint was due to a psychological, rather than a physiological, limitation. It is conceivable that this loss in performance would not exist during a competition. The aim of this study is, therefore, to investigate the influence that a competitive environment has on repeated-sprint performance.

Official Title
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The Effect of Simulated Competition on Repeated-sprint Cycling Performance and on Measures of Physiological and Psychological Stress.

Conditions
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Stress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Simulated competition


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: regular strength/sprint training (at least 2 sessions per week) Exclusion Criteria: Injured or a contraindicative medical condition

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Simulated competition<br>During the experimental condition, the participants will be competing for a reward, will be given verbal encouragement, and will receive performance feedback. | Other: Simulated competition<br>* During a competition, athletes will typically compete for a reward, against opponents and in the presence of others. This will be replicated in the laboratory.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>During the control condition, the participants will be asked to sprint without verbal encouragement or any performance feedback. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sprint Power Output | The Lode Excalibur Sport cycle ergometer records power output at 5Hz. Peak power output will be defined as the highest power output recorded. Mean power output will be calculated as the average power output over the 27 s sprint. Comparisons will be made between conditions. | From baseline to completion,  42 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Heart-rate Variability | Heart-rate variability provides a measure of physiological stress. Recordings will be taken at rest, after the warm-up, and following the sprints. Comparisons will be made between conditions. | From baseline to completion,  42 days | 
| Salivary Concentration of Alpha Amylase | Alpha amylase is a digestive enzyme found in saliva. Alpha amylase also provides a measure of physiological stress. Recordings will be taken at rest, after the warm-up, and following the sprints. Comparisons will be made between conditions. | From baseline to completion,  42 days | 
| 20 cm Visual Analogue Scale to Assess Anxiety | The scale will range from not at all anxious to very anxious. Participants will be asked to indicate how anxious they feel by place a clear mark on the scale. Measurements will be taken at rest, after the warm-up, and following the sprints. Comparisons will be made between conditions. | From baseline to completion,  42 days | 
| 20 cm Visual Analogue Scale to Assess Self-efficacy | The scale will range from cannot do it at all to highly certain. Participants will be asked about their confidence in their ability to improve on their baseline sprint performance. Measurements will be taken just prior to each sprint. Comparison to baseline. | From baseline to completion,  42 days | 
| Sport Anxiety Scale-2 - a questionnaire to assess cognitive and somatic anxiety. | Measured once. Correlation will performance. The response for each question carries a score of between 1 and 4. A higher number is reflective of a greater level of anxiety. | Baseline |