Spencer, Matt, Bishop, David and Lawrence, Steven (2004) Longitudinal assessment of the effects of field-hockey training on repeated sprint ability. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 7 (3). pp. 323-334. ISSN 1440-2440 (print) 1878-1861 (online)

Abstract

Repeated-sprint ability is thought to be an important fitness component of team sports. However, little is known about the effect sport-specific training has on this fitness component. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of field-hockey specific training on repeated-sprint ability, plasma hypoxanthine (Hx) concentration and other blood parameters in 18 elite female field-hockey players. All subjects performed a repeated-sprint ability test on a cycle ergometer (5 x 6-sec maximal sprints every 30 secs) before and after seven weeks of training, designed to improve repeated-sprint ability. Following training, there was a significant (P< 0.05) increase in absolute total work (20.73±2.00 to 21.15±2.07 kJ, mean±SD). However, there was no significant change in total work when expressed per kg of body mass (341.3±16.4 to 345.5±18.8 J·kg−1). In addition, training resulted in a significant (P< 0.05) decrease in change values (peak - rest values) for Hx (8.2±3.8 to 5.5±2.7 μmol·L−1) and hydrogen ion concentration (22.8±5.2 to 19.1±5.1 nmol·L−1). The significant increase in absolute total work following seven weeks of field-hockey specific training was most likely due to an increase in lean muscle mass. The significant decrease in plasma Hx concentration (post-test minus rest values) following seven weeks of field hockey-specific training provides evidence that Hx production and/or efflux from the muscle are reduced. Therefore, one adaptation of sport-specific repeated-sprint training may be to conserve the purine nucleotide pool.

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