Concentric not eccentric cycling sprint intervals acutely impair balance and jump performance in healthy active young...

Moderate aerobic, high-intensity and sprint running or cycling training can transiently impair postural control. However, the acute effects of modified sprint interval training (mSIT) at different muscle working modes have not yet been examined. Thus, this study aimed at investigating acute effects of time-matched eccentric (ECC) versus concentric mSIT cycling session (CON) on jumping and functional balance performance.

Twenty-five healthy and active males (30.0 ± 6.0 years; 80.1 ± 9.1 kg; V̇O_2max: 64.2 ± 7.9 mL kg^-1 min^-1) were enrolled in this acute randomized controlled crossover trial. Counter-Movement-Jump (CMJ) and functional balance testing (Y-Balance-Test composite score [YBT_CS]; Posturomed total distance: Posturomed_TD) were assessed as primary outcomes before, and immediately after cessation of ECC and CON (10 × 10 s maximum sprints and 50 s of active recovery).

A significant mode × time interaction effect for CMJ (F = 9.620, p = 0.005, η_p² = 0.29) was observed. Subsequent post-hoc testing revealed significant moderate reductions in jumping height after CON (0.31 ± 0.06 vs. 0.27 ± 0.06m; p = 0.004, SMD = 0.59), whilst ECC remained unchanged. YBT_CS (mode × time interaction: F = 6.880, p = 0.015, η_p² = 0.22) showed small but significant balance impairments after CON (0.964 ± 0.068 vs. 0.960 ± 0.063 AU; p = 0.009, SMD = 0.28) and did not significantly change after ECC. Although large significant interaction effects (p = 0.029, η_p² = 0.18) were observed for Posturomed_TD, follow up post-hoc testing did not reveal relevant pre-post differences, neither for ECC nor CON.

Both functional balance and jumping performance are deteriorated after acute concentric but not eccentric mSIT cycling. Although higher pedal forces at lower perceived efforts and heart rates during eccentric mSIT were observed, it seems that the cardiocirculatory demanding CON session elicited more pronounced balance and jump performance impairments than eccentric cycling.