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Isometric strength training lowers the O2 cost of cycling during moderate-intensity exercise

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Abstract

The effect of maximal voluntary isometric strength training of knee extensor muscles on pulmonary V′O2 on-kinetics, the O2 cost of cycling and peak oxygen uptake (V′O2peak) in humans was studied. Seven healthy males (mean ± SD, age 22.3 ± 2.0 years, body weight 75.0 ± 9.2 kg, V′O2peak 49.5 ± 3.8 ml kg−1 min−1) performed maximal isometric strength training lasting 7 weeks (4 sessions per week). Force during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) increased by 15 % (P < 0.001) after 1 week of training, and by 19 % (P < 0.001) after 7 weeks of training. This increase in MVC was accompanied by no significant changes in the time constant of the V′O2 on-kinetics during 6 min of moderate and heavy cycling intensities. Strength training resulted in a significant decrease (by ~7 %; P < 0.02) in the amplitude of the fundamental component of the V′O2 on-kinetics, and therefore in a lower O2 cost of cycling during moderate cycling intensity. The amplitude of the slow component of V′O2 on-kinetics during heavy cycling intensity did not change with training. Training had no effect on the V′O2peak, whereas the maximal power output reached at V′O2peak was slightly but significantly increased (P < 0.05). Isometric strength training rapidly (i.e., after 1 week) decreases the O2 cost of cycling during moderate-intensity exercise, whereas it does not affect the amplitude of the slow component of the V′O2 on-kinetics during heavy-intensity exercise. Isometric strength training can have beneficial effects on performance during endurance events.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the funding from the University School of Physical Education in Krakow (Statutory research project 4/BS/KFiB/2011). Z. Szkutnik was also supported from AGH-UST local grant. B. Grassi was supported by a Grant from ASI-OSMA Contract I/007/06/0, WP 1B-32-1.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Rehabilitation, University School of Physical Education, AWF-Kraków, Al. Jana Pawla II 78, 31-571, Kraków, Poland

    Jerzy A. Zoladz, Joanna Majerczak, Marcin Grandys & Krzysztof Duda

  2. Faculty of Applied Mathematics, AGH-University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland

    Zbigniew Szkutnik

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute, Kraków, Poland

    Krzysztof Duda

  4. Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Biologiche, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy

    Bruno Grassi

Authors
  1. Jerzy A. Zoladz
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  2. Zbigniew Szkutnik
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  3. Joanna Majerczak
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  4. Marcin Grandys
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  5. Krzysztof Duda
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  6. Bruno Grassi
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Correspondence to Jerzy A. Zoladz.

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Communicated by David C. Poole.

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Zoladz, J.A., Szkutnik, Z., Majerczak, J. et al. Isometric strength training lowers the O2 cost of cycling during moderate-intensity exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 4151–4161 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2405-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2405-x

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