Optimizing Recovery Strategies in Elite Speedskating: A Comparative Analysis of Different Modalities

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> As short-track speed skaters have to race multiple races to achieve success during competition, optimizing the recovery between efforts is a noteworthy performance determinant. Therefore, we compared three different recovery modalities (active cycling recove...

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Main Authors: Tomasz Kowalski, Kinga Rębiś, Jadwiga Malczewska-Lenczowska, Andrzej Klusiewicz, Michał Starczewski, Sebastian Klich, Przemysław Kasiak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/34
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author Tomasz Kowalski
Kinga Rębiś
Jadwiga Malczewska-Lenczowska
Andrzej Klusiewicz
Michał Starczewski
Sebastian Klich
Przemysław Kasiak
author_facet Tomasz Kowalski
Kinga Rębiś
Jadwiga Malczewska-Lenczowska
Andrzej Klusiewicz
Michał Starczewski
Sebastian Klich
Przemysław Kasiak
author_sort Tomasz Kowalski
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> As short-track speed skaters have to race multiple races to achieve success during competition, optimizing the recovery between efforts is a noteworthy performance determinant. Therefore, we compared three different recovery modalities (active cycling recovery, pneumatic compression boots, and isocapnic breathing protocol) in the context of perceived subjective pain and recovery variables, multiple biochemical and biomechanical indices, CMJ height and power, as well as repeated efforts on the ice track. <b>Methods:</b> Fifteen elite short-track speed skaters (eight males and seven females; age 18.3 ± 1.0 years, height 175.6 ± 7.5 cm, weight 73.7 ± 7.7 kg, 23.8 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, VO<sub>2</sub>max 55.5 mL·kg<sup>−1</sup>·min<sup>−1</sup>: ♂ 58 20 ± 3.6 mL·kg<sup>−1</sup>·min<sup>−1</sup>; and ♀ 53 ± 4.5 mL·kg<sup>−1</sup>·min<sup>−1</sup>) completed the study experiment and were included in the analyses. Repeated measures ANOVA with optional post hoc Bonferroni correction was used to assess the association magnitude of changes in variables across the recovery methods. <b>Results:</b> All the investigated protocols were associated with significant changes in multiple recovery indices observed within all the investigated protocols (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). However, for this sample, they resulted in analogous effects on subjective variables, hormonal response, creatine kinase, CMJ parameters, and on-ice performance (between-protocol effect: <i>p</i> ≥ 0.002). Changes in creatine kinase were generally higher in males than females (<i>p</i> = 0.05), which might suggest that optimal recovery protocols in short-track are gender-dependent. <b>Conclusions:</b> Since compression and active cycling remain gold standard recovery protocols, a similar response from isocapnic breathing suggests it may be a modality particularly useful in real-world settings.
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spelling doaj-art-1b1b4c89f5c546918e03a7e7c7fcdcb92025-08-20T02:11:11ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-01-011013410.3390/jfmk10010034Optimizing Recovery Strategies in Elite Speedskating: A Comparative Analysis of Different ModalitiesTomasz Kowalski0Kinga Rębiś1Jadwiga Malczewska-Lenczowska2Andrzej Klusiewicz3Michał Starczewski4Sebastian Klich5Przemysław Kasiak6Department of Physiology, Institute of Sport—National Research Institute, 01-982 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Sport—National Research Institute, 01-982 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Nutrition Physiology, Institute of Sport—National Research Institute, 01-982 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Physical Education and Health in Biala Podlaska, Faculty in Biała Podlaska, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education, 00-968 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Rehabilitation, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education, 00-968 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Sport Didactics, Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland<b>Background/Objectives:</b> As short-track speed skaters have to race multiple races to achieve success during competition, optimizing the recovery between efforts is a noteworthy performance determinant. Therefore, we compared three different recovery modalities (active cycling recovery, pneumatic compression boots, and isocapnic breathing protocol) in the context of perceived subjective pain and recovery variables, multiple biochemical and biomechanical indices, CMJ height and power, as well as repeated efforts on the ice track. <b>Methods:</b> Fifteen elite short-track speed skaters (eight males and seven females; age 18.3 ± 1.0 years, height 175.6 ± 7.5 cm, weight 73.7 ± 7.7 kg, 23.8 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, VO<sub>2</sub>max 55.5 mL·kg<sup>−1</sup>·min<sup>−1</sup>: ♂ 58 20 ± 3.6 mL·kg<sup>−1</sup>·min<sup>−1</sup>; and ♀ 53 ± 4.5 mL·kg<sup>−1</sup>·min<sup>−1</sup>) completed the study experiment and were included in the analyses. Repeated measures ANOVA with optional post hoc Bonferroni correction was used to assess the association magnitude of changes in variables across the recovery methods. <b>Results:</b> All the investigated protocols were associated with significant changes in multiple recovery indices observed within all the investigated protocols (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). However, for this sample, they resulted in analogous effects on subjective variables, hormonal response, creatine kinase, CMJ parameters, and on-ice performance (between-protocol effect: <i>p</i> ≥ 0.002). Changes in creatine kinase were generally higher in males than females (<i>p</i> = 0.05), which might suggest that optimal recovery protocols in short-track are gender-dependent. <b>Conclusions:</b> Since compression and active cycling remain gold standard recovery protocols, a similar response from isocapnic breathing suggests it may be a modality particularly useful in real-world settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/34active recoverycompression bootsrecovery breathingshort track
spellingShingle Tomasz Kowalski
Kinga Rębiś
Jadwiga Malczewska-Lenczowska
Andrzej Klusiewicz
Michał Starczewski
Sebastian Klich
Przemysław Kasiak
Optimizing Recovery Strategies in Elite Speedskating: A Comparative Analysis of Different Modalities
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
active recovery
compression boots
recovery breathing
short track
title Optimizing Recovery Strategies in Elite Speedskating: A Comparative Analysis of Different Modalities
title_full Optimizing Recovery Strategies in Elite Speedskating: A Comparative Analysis of Different Modalities
title_fullStr Optimizing Recovery Strategies in Elite Speedskating: A Comparative Analysis of Different Modalities
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing Recovery Strategies in Elite Speedskating: A Comparative Analysis of Different Modalities
title_short Optimizing Recovery Strategies in Elite Speedskating: A Comparative Analysis of Different Modalities
title_sort optimizing recovery strategies in elite speedskating a comparative analysis of different modalities
topic active recovery
compression boots
recovery breathing
short track
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/34
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AT andrzejklusiewicz optimizingrecoverystrategiesinelitespeedskatingacomparativeanalysisofdifferentmodalities
AT michałstarczewski optimizingrecoverystrategiesinelitespeedskatingacomparativeanalysisofdifferentmodalities
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