S1 Data -

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of partial-body cryostimulation on middle-distance runners before two 3000-m tests at the speed of the first and second ventilatory threshold, and before a time to exhaustion test at 110% of the maximal aerobic speed. Twelve amateur runners (age: 46 ± 9 years; VO2max: 51.7 ± 4.9 ml·kg-1·min-1) completed six running testing sessions in a randomized counterbalanced cross-over fashion: three of them were preceded by a partial-body cryostimulation and the other three by a control condition. The testing sessions consisted of: 1) a 3000-m continuous running test at the speed of the first ventilatory threshold; 2) a 3000-m continuous running test at the speed of the second ventilatory threshold; 3) a time to exhaustion test at 110% of the maximal aerobic speed. Heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion and visual analogue scale relative to muscle pain were recorded throughout the tests. Total quality recovery was evaluated 24–48 h after the end of each test. Distance to exhaustion was higher after partial-body cryostimulation than control condition (p = 0.018; partial-body cryostimulation: 988 ± 332 m, control: 893 ± 311 m). There were differences in the ratings of perceived exertion during each split of the 3000-m continuous running test at the speed of the second ventilatory threshold (p = 0.001). Partial-body cryostimulation can be positively considered to enhance middle-distance running performance and reduce perception of effort in amateur runners.

本研究旨在探究局部低温刺激(partial-body cryostimulation)对业余中长跑跑者的影响，具体考察其在两次分别以第一、第二通气阈值速度完成的3000米持续跑测试前，以及一次以110%最大有氧速度(maximal aerobic speed)实施的力竭时间(time to exhaustion)测试前的应用效果。纳入12名业余中长跑跑者作为受试者（年龄：46±9岁；最大摄氧量(VO2max)：51.7±4.9 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹），所有受试者以随机平衡交叉设计完成6次跑步测试环节：其中3次测试前施加局部低温刺激，剩余3次测试前仅采用对照处理。本次测试包含3种类型，具体为：1）以第一通气阈值速度完成的3000米持续跑测试；2）以第二通气阈值速度完成的3000米持续跑测试；3）以110%最大有氧速度进行的力竭时间测试。整个测试过程中，同步记录受试者的心率、自觉用力程度评分(ratings of perceived exertion)以及肌肉疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale)。每次测试结束后的24~48小时内，对受试者的整体恢复质量进行评估。实验结果显示：局部低温刺激组受试者的力竭距离显著高于对照组（p=0.018；局部低温刺激组：988±332 m，对照组：893±311 m）。在以第二通气阈值速度完成的3000米持续跑测试的各分段中，受试者的自觉用力程度评分存在显著组间差异（p=0.001）。综上，对于业余中长跑跑者而言，局部低温刺激可有效提升中长跑运动表现，并降低主观用力感知，具备积极的应用价值。