Effect of recovery duration on the force-velocity relationship

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different Recovery Duration (RD) between each sprint (30 s, 1 min, 3 min, 5 min, 10 min and 24 h) during the force-velocity test and to analyse associated anaerobic parameters such as maximal anaerobic power and blood lactate concentrations. Twelve male physical education students aged from 18 to 26 years took part in this study. Maximal anaerobic power (Pmax) was not statistically different whatever the recovery duration (from 885 to 938 watts, for RD 30 s to RD 24 h, respectively). This was associated with a tendency during the longer RD tests for optimal velocity to decrease (p = ns) while optimal force increased (p < 0.05). Blood lactate concentrations were regularly increased from 1.7 to a 9 mmol x l(-1) plateau at sprint 4 for RD tests < 10 min and were quite stable from the second sprint with an associated value from 2.2 to 4.7 mmol x l(-1) for RD 10 min and RD 24 h. In spite of statistically different values for [L]s between the tests, the power developed for each sprint remained unchanged. These data indicate that the attainment of maximal power seems independent from the recovery duration (> 10 s) and the pre-blood lactate values observed between each sprint during the force-velocity test. The way to reach Pmax was different between the tests. Different partition of energetic pathways are suggested. In conclusion, the force-velocity test could be performed with a shorter and the arbitrary five minutes recovery duration.