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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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THE EFFECT OF TAPERING PERIOD ON PLASMA PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE LEVELS AND PERFORMANCE IN ELITE MALE CYCLISTS |
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Negin Farhangimaleki1  ,
Farzad Zehsaz1 and Peter M. Tiidus2 |
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1Physical Education & Sport science Department, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Iran, 2Faculty of Science, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo ON, Canada . |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2009) 8, 600 - 606 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different
tapering period lengths on the concentration of plasma interleukin- 6 (IL-6),
interleukin (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-α) and performance
in elite male cyclists. To this end, after completing 8 weeks progressive
endurance exercise, twenty four high-level endurance cyclists were randomly
assigned to one of two groups: a control group of cyclists (n = 12) continued
performing progressive weekly training volume for 3 weeks while a taper
group of cyclists (n = 12) proceeded with a 50% reduction in weekly training
volume relative to the control group. A simulated 40 min time trial (40TT)
performance ride was used as the criterion index of performance before and
after the tapering period to evaluate the physiological and performance
effects of each protocol. Blood samples were collected immediately post-40TT
from all participants at the beginning of week 1, and the end of weeks 4,
8, 9 and 11. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα were assayed using a standard commercial
ELISA kits (Quantikine; R & D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). The mean time
to complete the 40TT in the taper group decreased significantly (p <
0.01) after both 1 and 3 weeks with reduced training volume relative to
the control group. There were significant reductions in (p < 0.001) IL-1β,
IL-6 and TNFα concentrations in the taper group relative to the control
group at the end of the 3 week tapering period, but not at the end of the
1 week tapering period. These results demonstrate that both a 1 and a 3
week taper period will result in improved physical performance in trained
cyclists but only a 3 week taper period will result in attenuation of post-exercise
pro- inflammatory cytokines when compared to those continuing a more intense
training regimen.
Key words: Endurance training, immune, performance, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, Tumor necrosis factor α. |
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