Effects of Local and Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on Repeated-Sprint Performance

The aim of the study was to investigate and compare local and remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on performance of a land-based repeated shuttle sprint (RSS) test. In a single-blind, crossover design, 10 competitive male team sport practitioners (mean ± SD age, 25.4 ± 6.6 yr; height, 1.79 ± 0.06 m; mass, 75.9 ± 6.6 kg) performed three sets of six 30-m shuttle sprints (180o change of direction). Approximately 40 minutes before performance, subjects completed three 5 minute periods of bilateral limb occlusion at either 220mmHg to the thigh (LIPC) or arm (RIPC), or 20mmHg to the thigh or arm, which were collapsed and averaged together (SH). There was a significant effect of condition on total time (TT; p = 0.02) with post hoc analysis revealing faster times in RIPC vs SH (p = 0.05, CI 95%: -0.97 to -0.00s) trial. There was a significant effect of condition on best time (BT; p = 0.04s), however post hoc analysis revealed a trend for faster times during RIPC vs SH (p = 0.09, CI 95%: -0.16 to 0.01s). RIPC induced improvements in RSS were accompanied with significantly improved heart rate recovery (p = 0.00, CI 95%: 1.62 to 4.14 bpm), greater maintenance of tissue saturation index (p = 0.03, CI 95%: -5.19 to -0.21%), and halfrecovery time of tissue saturation index (T1/2 TSI; p = 0.00, CI 95%: -5.37 to -1.93s), relative to SH trial. There was a significant improvement in T1/2 TSI in LIPC vs SH (p = 0.03, CI 95%: -4.05 to -0.25s). There were no significant differences between conditions for heart rate, blood lactate, and rating of perceived exertion. RIPC improved markers of RSS performance in comparison to LIPC. RIPC may be beneficial for team sports.