Effects of Combined Interventions to Optimize Recovery During High-intensity Exercises in Healthy Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects a complex recovery intervention during the breaks of a repeated sprint test on exercise performance compared to placebo and control conditions. The enhanced recovery package (ERP) includes neck cooling with an iced gel pad, drinking a 6% CHO solution, mouth-rinsing with a 10% CHO, 6 mg･kg -1 caffeine solution, performing submaximal squats and hyperventilating a hyperoxic mixture; all applied in each 3-min break in-between the six 30-s sprints. This intervention will be compared to a placebo and a control condition.

Official Title
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Effects of Combined Interventions to Optimize Recovery During High-intensity Exercises in Healthy Adults

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: ERP
* Other: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Informed Consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form) Healthy Male Age: 18-40 years Body-Mass-Index (BMI): 18.5-24.9 kg･m-2 Trained individuals: max. Power output ≥ 4.0 Watts･kg-1 Non-smoking Willingness to adhere to the study rules Exclusion Criteria: Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participants Previous enrolment into the current study Intake of medications affecting performance or the respiratory, cardiovascular or neuromuscular system Acute or chronic illness affecting performance or the respiratory, cardiovascular or neuromuscular system

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 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: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Each participant will be tested on 4 different days with a control, a placebo and an interventional condition in random order.
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: ERP Intervention<br>Combination of different methods to improve recovery. | Other: ERP<br>* The ERP intervention is applied in a randomized and counter-balanced order across visits 2-4 in each 3-min break in-between the six 30-s sprints, with one intervention per visit. The order and timing of the constituents of the interventions will be strictly constant within and between participants. ERP: 1) neck cooling with an iced gel pad, 2) drinking a ∼ 6% CHO solution, 3) mouth-rinsing with a ∼10% CHO, ∼6 mg ･ kg -1 caffeine solution, 4) performing submaximal squats and 5) hyperventilating a hyperoxic mixture<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Passive recovery by sitting on a chair | |
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>A combination of methods similar to the ERP intervention but at an intensity / mixture supposed to be ineffective at improving recovery. | Other: Placebo<br>* The control intervention is applied in a randomized and counter-balanced order across visits 2-4 in each 3-min break in-between the six 30-s sprints, with one intervention per visit. The order and timing of the constituents of the interventions will be strictly constant within and between participants. 1) neck cooling with room temperature gel pack, 2) drinking an artificially sweetened solution, 3) mouth-rinsing with artificially sweetened solution (containing no caffeine), 4) performing unloaded squat manoeuvres, 5) deep breaths with room air<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in mean power output | Measured over the six 30s high-intensity cycling sprints in each of the three conditions. Mean power mirrors the body's ability to generate muscle power and physical energy. Any meaningful effects of the recovery interventions will eventually translate into a higher power output. | through study completion, an expected average of 3 weeks per participant | 
| Change in fatigue index | Fatigue index = drop in power output from the beginning to the end a 30s sprint test. The change in this index will be calculated from the 1st to the 6th sprint test in each condition. | through study completion, an expected average of 3 weeks per participant |