Single and consecutive 10-day remote ischemic preconditioning modify physical performance, post-exercise exerkine...

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Ischemia-Reperfusion Research

Background:

• Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a protective method against ischemia-reperfusion injury with debated ergogenic effects in sports.
• Existing research primarily focuses on single RIPC interventions, lacking data on repeated, training-like protocols.
• Understanding the impact of repeated RIPC on physiological markers is crucial for sports performance optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of single and consecutive 10-day RIPC on a single leg.
• To analyze changes in exerkine levels and inflammation markers following the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT).
• To compare the efficacy of single versus repeated RIPC interventions.

Main Methods:

• Two randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled protocols: a crossover study for single RIPC and a parallel study for 10-day RIPC.
• Participants: 37 physically active men (mean age ~20 years).
• Measurements included WAnT performance, lactate, glucose, exerkines, and inflammatory markers (BDNF, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, LIF, oncostatin M).

Main Results:

• Consecutive 10-day RIPC significantly increased mean (4.81%) and peak power (6.25%) during WAnT.
• A significant decrease in IL-6 (15.5%) was observed 120 min post-WAnT after 10-day RIPC.
• Oncostatin M increased by 12.2% 60 min post-WAnT in the 10-day RIPC group.

Conclusions:

• The 10-day RIPC protocol demonstrated efficacy in enhancing exercise performance.
• Repeated RIPC effectively modulated post-exercise inflammation markers, including reductions in IL-6 and increases in oncostatin M.
• These findings suggest that training-like RIPC interventions can positively impact athletic performance and recovery.