Ischemic preconditioning with active reperfusion does not improve high-intensity intermittent exercise in youth team sport players.

PURPOSE: We investigated whether an active protocol of ischemic preconditioning (IPC-A) would improve high-intensity intermittent exercise performance in youth team sport players.

METHODS

Fifteen male amateur team sport players (15.5 ± 0.5 yrs) attended four different preconditioning sessions before the YoYo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (YYIR1) interspersed by seven days in a counterbalanced randomized cross-over design. IPC protocol consisted of three cycles of 5 min occlusion (220 mmHg) and 5 min reperfusion (0 mmHg) in both thighs. SHAM was similar to the IPC protocol, but 'occlusion' pressure was set up at 20 mmHg. Active protocols (IPC-A/ SHAM-A) were similar to the IPC/SHAM, but participants exercised (intermittent run) during the 'reperfusion' phases instead of resting. Six minutes after the protocol, the participants performed the YYIR1.

RESULTS

The distance covered in the YYIR1 did not differ (p = 0.46) among the protocols: IPC (917 ± 204 m) vs. IPC-A (931 ± 211 m) vs. SHAM (968 ± 201 m) vs. SHAM-A (933 ± 204 m). Blood lactate concentration, and mean heart rate did not differ either (p > 0.05) among the protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

Active ischemic preconditioning involving exercise during reperfusion phase does not improve high-intensity intermittent exercise performance nor alter physiological or perceptual responses in youth team sport players.