Influence of Training Specialization on Energetics of Intermittent Shuttle Runs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profiles of athletes with different training specialization during the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (30-15_IFT). Sixteen male handball players (HB) (age: 23 ± 3 yrs, height: 185 ± 7 cm, weight: 85 ± 14 kg) and 10 male endurance athletes (EA) (age: 26 ± 3 yrs, height: 178 ± 5 cm, weight: 69 ± 6 kg) completed the 30-15_IFT, while oxygen uptake (VO₂), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate were measured pre-, during, and 15 min post exercise. Metabolic energy, metabolic power, and relative energy contribution of the aerobic, anaerobic lactic, and anaerobic alactic system were calculated by the PCr-La-O₂ method. Further, time above 90% of VO_2peak was calculated. VO_2peak, time above 90% VO_2peak, VIFT, time to exhaustion, metabolic energy, and metabolic power were significantly lower in the HB players compared to the EA, while ΔBLC did not differ significantly between 2 Groups. Relative aerobic and anaerobic alactic energy shares did not differ significantly between 2 Groups while relative anaerobic lactic contribution was significantly higher in the handball players. Further, VO₂peak was significantly correlated with VIFT (r = .803) and time to exhaustion (r = .850). In conclusion, during intermittent endurance exercise training, specialization affects primarily relative anaerobic lactic energy contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]