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Original article
The effect of 1 week of repeated ischaemic leg preconditioning on simulated Keirin cycling performance: a randomised trial
  1. Angus Lindsay1,2,
  2. Carl Petersen1,
  3. Gavin Blackwell1,
  4. Hamish Ferguson3,
  5. Greg Parker4,
  6. Nina Steyn4,
  7. Steven P Gieseg4,5
  1. 1 School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
  2. 2 Program in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
  3. 3 Sport Performance Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
  4. 4 School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury College of Science, Christchurch, New Zealand
  5. 5 Department of Radiology, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
  1. Correspondence to Dr Carl Petersen; carl.petersen{at}canterbury.ac.nz

Abstract

Background Coaches continually seek new ways of doing things and also refine existing techniques to improve sporting performance. Coaches are currently experimenting using ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) over consecutive days in the hope of improving competitive performances.

Aims First, to quantify the physiological impact of 1 week of IPC on simulated Keirin cycling performance. Second, to investigate if biochemical stress markers are affected over the treatment period.

Methods Using a randomised, sham-controlled design, 18 active adults undertook seven consecutive days of IPC treatment (4×5 min occlusion/reperfusion) applied to each leg at either 220 mm Hg (treatment, n=9) or 20 mm Hg (sham, n=9). Urinary measures of inflammation, oxidative stress and indirect nitric oxide synthesis were undertaken daily. A simulated Keirin cycling competition (4×30 s Wingate tests) was performed on day 10, with baseline and postintervention cycling VO2max (days 1, 11 and 18) and 30 s Wingate tests (day 2) undertaken for comparison.

Results The treatment group had enhanced mean cycling power (3.4%), while neopterin and biopterin in conjunction with total neopterin were significantly lower (p<0.05) and total biopterin significantly greater (p<0.05) during the simulated Keirin. Aerobic fitness measures significantly improved from baseline to postintervention (VO2peak: 12.8% ↑, maximal aerobic power: 18.5% ↑).

Conclusions Seven consecutive days of IPC improved aerobic and anaerobic capacity measures, with modulations in oxidative stress, immune system activation and nitric oxide/catecholamine synthesis.

  • biopterin
  • inflammation
  • oxidative stress
  • neopterin

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000229

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    Footnotes

    • Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Larissa Paes for her significant contribution to the preparation of this study, Dr Geoff Shaw for his contribution towards the concept design and each of the participants for their involvement.

    • Contributors AL manuscript preparation, revision, statistics, interpretation, study design, testing.

      CP manuscript preparation, interpretation, revision, study design, testing.

      GB study design, testing, manuscript proofing.

      HF subject recruitment, testing, manuscript proofing.

      GP biochemical analysis, manuscript proofing.

      NS biochemical analysis, manuscript proofing.

      SPG study design, results interpretation, manuscript proofing.

    • Funding This research was funded by the School of Health Sciences and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Ethics approval University of Canterbury, Human Ethics Committee.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.