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Physiological responses and performance change among four different daily strength high-intensity training programs (crossfit) (Master thesis)

Κουμουνδούρου, Άννα-Καρολίνα/ Koumoundourou, Anna-Carolina/ Φυσιολογία της Άσκησης και Προπονητική

The purpose of the study was to compare physiological responses during four daily Crossfit programs that differ in the mode of execution and training goal. A total of 12 Crossfit athletes, 9 men and 3 women aged 30±4 years, participated voluntary and performed four Crossfit programs which aimed at cardiorespiratory endurance (programs A and B) and strength endurance (programs C and D). They were implemented either by performing as many rounds as possible at a given time (programs A and D) or by performing a fixed number of repetitions as fast as possible (programs B and C). During the execution of the programs, the heart rate was recorded while at the baseline, in the middle, immediately after and at the 5th and 15th minute of recovery, blood lactatewas measured. In addition, during the exercise treadmill test the maximum heart rate was recorded as well as the lactate concentration were measured after the Wingate anaerobic capacity test. Maximum heart rate was lower (p< 0.05) in program A (181.7±7.9 b/min) compared to program B (188.4±5.0 b/min), C (185.6±5.7 b/min) and D (186.3±4.0 b/min). Similarly, mean heart rate was lower (p< 0.05) in program A (160.2±9.2 b/min) compared to B (174.8±5.0 b/min), C (173.3±9.7 b/min), and D (175,3±5,3 b/min). At the end of the execution of the programs the concentration of lactate was higher (p<0.0 5) in program C compared to A, in the 5th minute of recovery in programs B and C than in A and D, and in the 15th minute higher in program C than in A and D. The maximum heart rate values did not differ in programs B and D (p> 0.05) from that achieved in the graded exercise test while they were lower in programs A and C. At the end of programs B and C the lactate values tended to be higher (p= 0.06) compared to the values in the Wingate test. These findings revealed that CrossFit training causes extensive use of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism as indicated by heart rate and lactate values, even when designed to train different athletic parameters such as cardiorespiratory and strength endurance.