Does circadian rhythm have an impact on anaerobic performance, recovery and muscle damage?

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the effect of circadian rhythms (CR) on anaerobic performance and subsequent recovery, muscle damage, and respiratory muscle strength. Twenty diurnally active male football players (age, 22.20 ± 3.14 y) were asked to perform the Wingate anaerobic power test three times for 30 s each at 09:00, 14:00 and 19:00 h, with a minimum recovery period of 1 week between each testing day. Pretest oral temperature, respiratory muscle strength, oxygen saturation, and rating of perceived exertion were recorded at three different time of the day. To examine post-exercise recovery, heart rate (HR) and lactic acid (LA) levels were recorded before and after the tests. Blood samples were collected 20 min after each test to assess muscle damage. The body temperature taken at 19:00 h was the highest of the three (p < .01). After the tests, the LA value at 19:00 h was higher than that at 09:00 h (p < .05). According to CR, the HR values measured after anaerobic exercise were higher at 14:00 h (p < .05). The peak power value was higher at 14:00 h than at 19:00 h (p < .058). CR does not affect muscle damage and respiratory muscle strength. Further, at 14:00 h, anaerobic power was higher and recovery occurred faster compared to the other test times of 09:00 and 19:00 h. Therefore, it is recommended that anaerobic training should be performed early in the afternoon.

KEYWORDS:

• Circadian rhythm
• anaerobic power
• muscle damage
• recovery from exercise
• respiratory muscle strength

Acknowledgements

We are thankful for the participants that took part in this project.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was taken by Clinical Research Committee of Ondokuz Mayıs University which is number 2016/248.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Ondokuz Mayıs University’s Scientific Research and Development Support Program Project [Project number: PYO.YDS.1904.18.007]. Thanks for the support.