2134/25837 Patrick J. Griffin Patrick J. Griffin Richard Ferguson Richard Ferguson Conor Gissane Conor Gissane Stephen Bailey Stephen Bailey Stephen D. Patterson Stephen D. Patterson Ischemic preconditioning enhances critical power during a 3 minute all-out cycling test Loughborough University 2017 W Prime High intensity exercise Near-infrared spectroscopy Priming Occlusion Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified 2017-07-20 12:41:05 Journal contribution https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Ischemic_preconditioning_enhances_critical_power_during_a_3_minute_all-out_cycling_test/9628502 This study tested the hypothesis that ischemic preconditioning (IPC) would increase critical power (CP) during a 3 minute all-out cycling test. Twelve males completed two 3 minute all-out cycling tests, in a crossover design, separated by 7 days. These tests were preceded by IPC (4 x 5 minute intervals at 220 mmHg bilateral leg occlusion) or SHAM treatment (4 x 5 minute intervals at 20 mmHg bilateral leg occlusion). CP was calculated as the mean power output during the final 30 s of the 3 minute test with W′ taken as the total work done above CP. Muscle oxygenation was measured throughout the exercise period. There was a 15.3 ± 0.3% decrease in muscle oxygenation (TSI; [Tissue saturation index]) during the IPC stimulus, relative to SHAM. CP was significantly increased (241 ± 65 W vs. 234 ± 67 W), whereas W′ (18.4 ± 3.8 vs 17.9 ± 3.7 kJ) and total work done (TWD) were not different (61.1 ± 12.7 vs 60.8 ± 12.7 kJ), between the IPC and SHAM trials. IPC enhanced CP during a 3 minute all-out cycling test without impacting W′ or TWD. The improved CP after IPC might contribute towards the effect of IPC on endurance performance.