ORIGINAL ARTICLES  EXCERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2015 May;55(5):439-45

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Can information on remaining time modulate psychophysiological parameters during an intermittent exercise?

Okada Triana R. ¹, Bigliassi M. ², Bodnariuc Fontes E. ^{2, 3}, Altimari L. R. ^{2, 3}, Dalla Pria Bankoff A. ³, De Moares A. C. ^{2, 3}

¹ Federal Police Department, Brasília, Brazil; ² Study and Research Group in Neuromuscular System and Exercise, Physical Education and Sport Center, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil; ³ Electromyography Studies Laboratory, Physical Education Faculty, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to verify the effect of information on remaining time on physiological and perceptual responses during an intermittent exercise.
METHODS: Ten trained cyclists participated in this study (176±0.4 cm; 78.5±10.4 kg; 32.5±6 years; peak power output: 369.8±37.8 W; VO2peak: 51.90±10.37 mL/kg/min). An intermittent cycling protocol consisting of four minutes at low-intensity (50% PPO) intervals followed by one-minute high-intensity bouts (100% PPO) under three different conditions were performed: OL40=40 min open-loop with no information on remaining time; CLI40=40 min closed-loop with information on remaining time; and CLI20=20 min closed-loop with information on remaining time. Ventilatory data (VO2) and electromyographic signals (EMG) were continuously recorded, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was acquired at the end of the high-intensity periods.
RESULTS: Results indicated that the oxygen consumption and muscle activity during OL40 were lower than CLI40. OL40 also demonstrated significantly lower VO2 values compared to CLI20 during high-intensity periods at 10 and 20 min. Root mean square values from EMG data for OL40 during high-intensity periods were significantly lower at 40 min compared with CLI40, and when the high-intensity period median frequencies among protocols were compared, CLI40 presented significantly higher values than the other conditions at 5 and 10 min.
CONCLUSION: Even when power output is maintained, information on remaining time may alter peripheral responses through a complex saving component to prevent higher energy expenditure during physical exercise.