Contribution of energy systems in different repeated sprint protocols: Gender comparison

The aim of this study was to investigate the energy system contrubution, performance variables and physiological responses in different repeated sprint protocols with same total sprint duration (60s) according to gender. Sixteen male and fourteen female active athletes from indoor teams sports participated in this study voluntarily. Participants performed two repeated sprint protocols (10x6s and 6x10s) in random order with standard recovery of 30 s. Relative peak power (PPREL), relative mean power (MPREL), performance decrement (PD%), oxygen consumption (VO2), blood lactate (LA), heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during the tests. The contributions of the aerobic, lactic, and alactic systems were calculated from the VO2, LA values, and the recovery VO2 using mono-exponential model. The differences in performance variables, physiological responses and contribution of each energy system, total energy expenditure, relative energy expenditure and oxygen consumption values by gender and protocol were analyzed with Mixed Model ANOVA. The findings indicated significant gender effect in PPREL and MPRELvalues (p<0.05). The protocol effect on ZGREL values was similar (p>0.05), while it was significant on OGREL values (p<0.05). The gender effect in PD% was similar (p>0.05), while the protocol effect was significant (p<0.05). The effects of protocols on maximum HR and LA were similar (p>0.05) however it was significant in RPE (p<0.05). In repeated sprint protocols, the effect of gender and protocol on alactic and lactic system energy expenditure was significantly different (p<0.05). In the aerobic system contribution, the gender effect was similar (p>0.05), but the protocol effect was significantly different (p<0.05). The findings of this study showed that the contribution of energy systems, physiological responses and performance variabled varied significantly by gender and protocol in repeated sprint protocols. Additionally, this study suggested that the 10x6 s protocol was more suitable to improve the alactic system in both gender.