Interval Training and Performance in Mountain Bikers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aerobic fitness is important for mountain bikers, but riders should also be able to generate maximal and supramaximal efforts in some crucial phases of the competition. Although there is an increase interest in high-intensity aerobic training, to investigators knowledge, there are no studies examining the effects of interval (INTV) or intermittent training (INTM) in mountain bikers. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of INTV and INTM on aerobic fitness variables (peak power output, Wmax, lactate threshold, and onset of blood lactate accumulation) but more importantly on performance as measured using a controlled mountain bike race, i.e. simulation. The investigators hypothesized that INTV and INTM training were equally effective in improving Wmax, Lactate threshold and onset of blood lactate accumulation, but INTV was superior in enhancing performance in mountai bike race simulation.This hypothesis is due to studies that have shown higher gains in performance with long duration of aerobic high intensity interval training in comparison to the shorter training at a higher intensity.

Detailed Description
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The study is a controlled and randomized trial.

Official Title
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Effect of Intermittent Versus Interval Training on Mountain Bike Cross-country Performance: a Parallel-group Randomized Trial

Conditions
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Physical Activity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Interval Training
* Other: Intermittent Training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Specific training in the mountain bike sport Exclusion Criteria: Use of pharmacological substances

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 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

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Interval Training<br>The INTV consisted of 7 to 10 repetitions of 4-6 min at the highest intensity sustainable, and in the last 30 s of each repetition was performed a maximal sprint, the active recovery was 4-6 min in intensity from 10 to 15 of scale of perceived exertion CR100. | Other: Interval Training<br>* The interval training group consisted of 7 to 10 repetitions of 4-6 min at the highest intensity sustainable, the active recovery was 4-6 min in intensity from 10 to 15 of scale of perceived exertion CR100.<br>|
| Experimental: Intermittent Training<br>The riders completed 8 to 12 repetitions of 30 s all-out with 4 min of active recovery (10-15 on the CR100 scale). | Other: Intermittent Training<br>* The riders of intermittent training group completed 8 to 12 repetitions of 30 s all-out with 4 min of active recovery.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interval Training and Performance in Mountain Bikers | The aim of this study was to compare the effects of interval (INTV) and intermittent training (INTM) on aerobic fitness variables (peak power output, Wmax, lactate threshold, and onset of blood lactate accumulation) and performance as measured using a controlled MTB race, i.e. simulation. Pre to post differences were examined using two-way ANOVA, with a factor time on two levels (pre, post), and a factor group on two levels (INTV and INTM). Differences between groups post-training were also analyzed with ANCOVA using the pre-training values as covariate. These differences were calculated after log transforming the dependent variables. The difference between groups in the primary outcome (performance) was also analyzed using a magnitude-based inferences approach. The smallest worthwhile difference for the performance was considered to be 1%. | Six weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Aerobic Interval Training, Supramaximal Training