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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Performance improvement is associated with higher postexercise responses in interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor
1Department of Kinanthropometry, Faculty of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Centre of Behavioural and Health StudiesUniversity of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. jarek.maestu@ut.ee
Aim:
The aim of this study was to investigate the postexercise concentrations in IL-6 and TNF-α during maximal 6000 meter time trial in conditions with improved performance capacity.
Methods:
Nine highly trained male rowers (age 19.67±1.0; height 190.67±4.24 cm; weight 91.07±6.24 kg) participated. Subjects were asked for body composition measurement and two 6000 meter all-out rowing ergometer trial separated by one year.
Results:
The 6000 meter rowing ergometer performance was significantly improved during one year period from from Test 1 to Test 2 (from 330.3±21.9 W to 349.2±20.3 W, P<0.05). No significant changes were observed in the anthropometrical parameters. Postexercise cortisol and IL-6 were significantly increased during both testing sessions, while TNF-α was only increased after Test 2 when compared to pretest values. Postexercise and post 30 values of TNF-α were significantly higher at Test 2 compared to Test 1, while only Post 30 values of IL-6 were significantly higher at Test 2 compared to Test 1. There were no significant relationship between postexercise IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations and the 6000 meter rowing ergometer performance (r=-0.101 - -0.617; P>0.05) and no signigficant relationships between the measured body compositional and blood biochemical parameters. Postexercise changes in IL-6 concentration were significantly related to changes in performance (r=-0.667 and r=-0.865 for POST and POST 30, respectively; P<0.05).
Conclusion:
In conclusion improvements in performance resulted in higher postexercise concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α in highly trained male rowers.
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