Carbohydrates do not accelerate force recovery after glycogen‐depleting followed by high‐intensity exercise in humans.

Prolonged low‐frequency force depression (PLFFD) induced by fatiguing exercise is characterized by a persistent depression in submaximal contractile force during the recovery period. Muscle glycogen depletion is known to limit physical performance during prolonged low‐ and moderate‐intensity exercise, and accelerating glycogen resynthesis with post‐exercise carbohydrate intake can facilitate recovery and improve repeated bout exercise performance. Short‐term, high‐intensity exercise, however, can cause PLFFD without any marked decrease in glycogen. Here, we studied whether recovery from PLFFD was accelerated by carbohydrate ingestion after 60 minutes of moderate‐intensity glycogen‐depleting cycling exercise followed by six 30‐seconds all‐out cycling sprints. We used a randomized crossover study design where nine recreationally active males drank a beverage containing either carbohydrate or placebo after exercise. Blood glucose and muscle glycogen concentrations were determined at baseline, immediately post‐exercise, and during the 3‐hours recovery period. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle was performed to determine the extent of PLFFD by eliciting low‐frequency (20 Hz) and high‐frequency (100 Hz) stimulations. Muscle glycogen was severely depleted after exercise, with a significantly higher rate of muscle glycogen resynthesis during the 3‐hours recovery period in the carbohydrate than in the placebo trials (13.7 and 5.4 mmol glucosyl units/kg wet weight/h, respectively). Torque at 20 Hz was significantly more depressed than 100 Hz torque during the recovery period in both conditions, and the extent of PLFFD (20/100 Hz ratio) was not different between the two trials. In conclusion, carbohydrate supplementation enhances glycogen resynthesis after glycogen‐depleting exercise but does not improve force recovery when the exercise also involves all‐out cycling sprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]