Influence of two high-intensity intermittent training programmes on anaerobic capacity in humans

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine the influence of a maximal effort training programme with variation of the pedalling rate on the anaerobic capacity, post-exercise maximal concentration of lactic acid (LA) and acid-alkali balance changes in the capillary blood. Identification of the dependence between the lactic acid concentration and the anaerobic capacity produced in the Wingate test was also the goal. The hypothesis that cycloergometer training consisting of maximal efforts with a load equal to 10% of body weight (BW) will elicit bigger changes of measured values in comparison to training with a load of 5% BW was verified. Twenty non-athletes, students of UPE took part in the study. They were divided into 2 groups. The first group (M10; n=9) performed maximal efforts with a load equal to 10% of body weight (BW). The second group (M5; n=11) performed maximal efforts with a load of 5% BW. Control measurements of anaerobic capacity (Wingate test) were taken every Monday: before the test (0), during 4 weeks of training (1-4) and for 2 weeks after the test (5-6). Blood for the determination of lactic acid concentration and acid-alkali balance was taken from the fingertip before performing the Wingate test – in the 5th, 7th, 9th and 30th resting minute. Changes of maximal power (Pmax) were not statistically significant in either group. Significant differences were found between the two groups after the second week of rest. For mean power (Pm) the most important changes were noted in the first week from training (M10 – 6.5%; M5 – 11.0%). No significant differences were found between groups. Average values of the individual LA concentration peak (the highest LA concentration occurring after the Wingate test for each individual) changed significantly in group M10 from 15.233±2.367 mmol/l in the measurement made before training to 12.340±2.353 mmol/l in the measurement taken 2 weeks after training. Group M5 is characterised by a change of this factor after 4 weeks of training from 15.109±1.739 (before tests) to 13.491±2.098 mmol/l. The scarcity of significant changes between groups indicates that the pedalling rate does not influence the anaerobic capacity. A surprising observation was the lactic acid concentration lowering in the Wingate test performed after 4 weeks of maximal effort training in relation to the LA values obtained before the experiment began.