INTERMITTENT SPRINTING CAUSES GREATER THERMOREGULATORY STRAIN THAN CONTINUOUS WORK

Bishop, D. J., Paun, V., & Ruch, N. (2005). Thermoregulatory responses to repeated-sprint and continuous exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(5), Supplement abstract 1005.

Active males (N = 8) performed exercise regimens in hot conditions (35°C). First, repeated sprints consisted of 37 minutes of sprinting divided into ~2-minute blocks consisting of a 4-seconds sprint followed by 100 seconds of active recovery (35% VO2max) and 20 seconds of rest. Second, a continuous exercise with a workload matching the average mechanical work produced in the sprint protocol. Third, a continuous exercise with a workload matching the estimated metabolic power produced in the sprint protocol. Temperature measures were taken at rest and every five minutes during the conditions.

Body and rectal temperatures were highest in the intermittent sprint condition. There were no significant differences between conditions for skin and muscle temperature and temperature gradient.

Implication. Thermoregulatory strain is greatest in intermittent sprint work when compared to continuous exercise. The difference could be attributable to the large energy expenditure during recovery in the sprint protocol.

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