Priming Exercise Increases Wingate Cycling Peak Power Output

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of priming exercise on Wingate performance and fatigue. Methods: Twelve recreationally active young male volunteers participated in the study (age: 25 +/- 5 years; weight: 75.0 +/- 7.5 kg; height: 177 +/- 6 cm; BMI: 24.0 +/- 1.7). During a first visit, participants performed a typicaltest and a supramaximal assessment of (V) over dotO(2max) on a cycle ergometer, while during the next three visits, the participants performed in a random order a Wingate test (i) with no priming exercise, (ii) after priming exercise followed by a 15-min recovery (Priming15) and (iii) after priming exercise followed by a 30-min recovery (Priming30). Priming exercise lasted 6 min, at work rate corresponding to the gas exchange threshold (GET) plus 70% of the difference between the GET and (V) over dotO(2max). Results: The Priming 30 condition exhibited greater peak power output (595 +/- 84 W) compared to the control (567 +/- 85 W) and the Priming15 condition (569 +/- 95 W) (P < .05). Regarding fatigue index, a tendency towards increased resistance to fatigue was observed in the Priming30 condition compared to the control and the Priming15 conditions (P = .072). Pre-Wingate lactate levels were found to be significantly different between the Priming15 (7.18 +/- 3.09 mmol/L) and the Priming30 (4.87 +/- 2.11 mmol/L) conditions (P < .05). Conclusions: Priming exercise of high intensity followed by a prolonged recovery leads to increased peak power in a subsequent Wingate test. Moreover, our data are consistent with the idea that a priming exercise-induced modest increase in blood lactate concentration at the onset of the following criterion bout is a key factor of performance.