Markers Of Training Status During Increases In Training Time

NISMAT. Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, New York.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a four fold increase in training time submaximal performance and potential indicators of "staleness," as defined by a decrease in performance due to increased training. For a 9 week period, 4 women and 2 men, age 30.0 +/- 1.6, exercised at ventilatory threshold (VT) on a bicycle ergometer for 30 minutes 3 times per week for weeks 1 through 3 and 7 through 9. Weeks 4 through 7 subjects exercised at VT for 60 minutes 6 times per week. At the beginning and end of each three week period VO2 was measured during progressive incremental bicycle ergometry to exhaustion. Weekly resting blood and urine samples and Profile of M

          WRVT           VO2 150         O2 170         Fatigue
          (kpm)          (L/min)         (L/min)        (POMS)
start   708 +/- 85    1.446 +/- .13   1974 +/-.16      6.3 +/- 2
week 4  741 +/- 93    1.488 +/- .15   1.993 +/-.21     2.0 +/- 1
week 7  891 +/- 101*  1.762 +/- .23*  2.335 +/- .25*  11.5 +/- 3^
end     983 +/- 79*   1.733 +/- .23   2.308 +/-.29     4.2 +/- 2
* Different from previous weeks P < .05.  ^ Different from week 4, P = .04.

Total mood disturbance score tended to increase (P = .07) at week 10 and vigor tended to decrease (P = .078) at week 7. There were no significant differences in CPK, LDH, hemoglobin, hematocrit or urinary catecholamines. Conclusion: Increased training time produces a training effect with no significant different in physiological variables, such as CPK, LDH, hemoglobin, hematocrit or urinary catecholamines. Despite deterioration in the POMS, increased training intensity Improved performance as objectively measured by increased VO2 for a given HR, suggesting a discordance between physiological measures and the subjects physiological profile.

Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 22(5):s96, 1990.