Exercise, Recovery
Conditions
Keywords
Recovery, Exercise training, Performance, Cardiometabolic health, Immune response
Brief summary
This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of various recovery strategies (such as longer recovery periods or reduced exercise intensity) in optimizing both physical performance and overall health status. Furthermore, the study will explore the potential of using changes in blood and urinary markers as indicators for assessing recovery status. This study will assess whether extending recovery periods between exercise sessions and reducing the volume of exercise training can enhance the recovery process and enhance performance and health-related markers, relative to a control group. One hundred-fifth young males will be recruited to participate in a single-center, parallel-group, randomized, well-controlled, superiority trial for 8 weeks of high-volume exercise training. A single-center, parallel-group, randomized, well-controlled, superiority trial will be conducted among 150 physically active young males. Participants will undergo an 8-week high-volume exercise during base training program, which they will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) a control group, which will follow the standard exercise regimen of 35 hours/week (n = 50); (2) a less exercise volume group, which will reduce exercise volume by 15% to 30 hours/week (n = 50); and (3) an extended recovery group, which will perform the same volume of exercise as the control group (35 hours/week), but with longer recovery intervals between exercises (n = 50). The intervention will take place at the Ministry of Defense training platform. All study measurements will be taken at baseline and throughout the study. Body composition will be assessed using multichannel bioelectrical impedance (Seca). Continuously monitor (Garmin) will be used to evaluate heart rate and heart rate variability. Fasting blood samples will be used to examine inflammatory, lipid, glycemic, and endocrine markers. Physical performance will be assessed by several validated assessments, including handgrip, maximal voluntary contraction, Wingate test, Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP), counter movement jump (CMJ) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max).
Detailed description
The primary aim will be to determine the effect of different recovery strategies during 8 weeks of well-controlled, high-volume, large-scale, exercise training on the immune system (a), cardio-metabolic markers (b), and endocrine response (c). Secondary aims will include: (1) To determine the effect of different recovery strategies during 8 weeks of well-controlled, high-volume, large-scale, exercise training on body strength (a), aerobic capacity (b), and body composition (c). After baseline measurements, participants will be randomized 1:1:1 into one of three groups for 8 weeks: (1) a control group, which will follow the standard exercise regimen of 35 hours/week (n = 50); (2) a less exercise volume group, which will reduce exercise volume by 15% to 30 hours/week (n = 50); and (3) an extended recovery group, which will perform the same volume of exercise as the control group (35 hours/week), but with longer recovery intervals between exercises (n = 50). Changes in health indices will be assessed by cardiometabolic, endocrine, and immune blood markers and body composition assessment at baseline (T0) after, 4 (T4), and 8 (T8) weeks of the intervention. Aerobic capacity, anaerobic threshold, and strength measurements will be used to determine changes in performance at T0, T4, and T8.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALA regular training volume
Participate will maintain their training volume of 35 h/week
BEHAVIORALA lower exercise volume group
Participate will conduct 85% of the control group weekly training volume (i.e., 30h/week)
BEHAVIORALA longer rest group
Participate will maintain the 35 h/week of exercise training
Sponsors
Tel Aviv University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Highly active participants * Healthy * Candidates for security course in the Ministry of Defense
Exclusion criteria
* Cardiopulmonary diseases (e.g., recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina) * Musculoskeletal or neuromuscular impairments that preclude exercise training * Cognitive impairments * Use of drugs that affect bone or muscle metabolism (mainly steroids)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in endocrine measurements | At baseline and at 8 weeks of intervention | Testosterone (ng/dL) |
| Changes in immune system | At baseline and at 8 weeks of intervention | Tumor necrosis factor-a (pg/ml), Interleukin-6 (pg/ml) |
| Changes in cardiometabolic measurements | At baseline and at 8 weeks of intervention | Glucose (mg/dl), lipid profile (total cholesterol in mg/dl, HDL in mg/dl, LDL in mg/dl) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in body composition | At baseline and at 8 weeks of intervention | BMI (kg/m\^2) |
| Changes in aerobic capacity | At baseline and at 8 weeks of intervention | Wingate test (watts) |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in explosive power | At baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks of intervention | Countermovement jump (in cm) |
| Nutritional intake | At week 2 and week 6 of intervention | protein intake (gr and in %of total kcal), carbohydrate intake (gr and in% of total kcal), fat intake (gr and in %of total kcal). |
| Strength assessment | At baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks of intervention | Maximum voluntary contraction (in Newton) |
Countries
Israel
Contacts
Primary ContactYftach Gepner, PhD
Outcome results
None listed