Cycling Versus Uphill Walking: Impact on Locomotor Muscle Fatigue and Running Exercise

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Neuromuscular Function

Background:

• Understanding the impact of pre-running exercise on neuromuscular properties is crucial for optimizing athletic performance.
• Cycling and uphill walking are common training modalities with potentially different physiological effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of 1-hour cycling versus uphill walking at the same intensity on knee-extensor (KE) neuromuscular function.
• To assess the influence of these preceding exercises on subsequent 10-km running performance and perceived exertion.

Main Methods:

• Nine athletes completed three experimental sessions: 1-hour cycling followed by a 10-km run, 1-hour uphill walk followed by a 10-km run, and a 10-km run alone.
• KE neuromuscular function was measured pre- and post-exercise, alongside heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE).

Main Results:

• Cycling led to significant decreases in KE force, twitch torque, and rate of force development, which did not occur after uphill walking.
• Both cycling and uphill walking increased RPE during the subsequent running exercise compared to running alone.
• Postactivation potentiation was observed after uphill walking and running, with partial recovery of KE force after cycling and running.

Conclusions:

• Uphill walking, unlike cycling, mitigates the decline in KE force post-exercise, potentially due to postactivation potentiation.
• Both exercise modalities elevate the perceived effort during subsequent running, indicating distinct physiological demands and recovery profiles.