Mouth rinsing and ingesting unpleasant salty or bitter solutions after heavy-intensity cycling does not influence sprint performance or knee-extensor force in trained cyclists
Gray, Edward A. Cavaleri, Rocco Siegler, Jason C.
Gray, Edward A.
Cavaleri, Rocco
Siegler, Jason C.
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
EPub Date
Publication Date
2024-12-28
Submitted Date
Collections
Other Titles
Abstract
PURPOSE: The present study investigated the effect of unpleasant salty or bitter tastes on cycling sprint performance and knee-extensor force characteristics in different fatigue states.
METHODS: Following a familiarization session, 11 trained male cyclists completed 3 experimental trials (salty, bitter, and water) in a randomized crossover order. In each trial, participants cycled at 85% of the respiratory compensation point for 45 minutes and then, after a 5-minute rest, completed a 1-minute sprint. Muscle-force characteristics were assessed using 2 knee-extensor maximal voluntary contractions immediately before, between, and after the cycling efforts. Participants mouth-rinsed and ingested 25 mL of test solution (salty, bitter, and water) immediately before each maximal voluntary contractions and the 1-minute sprint.
RESULTS: There were no significant differences in mean and peak power output during the 1-minute sprint between conditions (mean power: 528 [71] W, 524 [70] W, and 521 [80] W in the water, salt, and bitter conditions, respectively). Muscle-force production was impaired in all conditions after the heavy-intensity cycling, evidenced by a decline in maximum force production (P = .01, effect size = 0.32) and 100- to 200-millisecond impulse (P = .04, effect size = 0.27). However, there were no significant differences between conditions in maximal force or impulse measures at rest or after exercise.
CONCLUSION: These data question whether unpleasant tastes can influence muscle-force production and do not support that they may be used as an ergogenic aid for a cycling sprint performed under fatigued conditions.
Citation
Gray, E. A., Cavaleri, R., & Siegler, J. C. (2025). Mouth rinsing and ingesting unpleasant salty or bitter solutions after heavy-intensity cycling does not influence sprint performance or knee-extensor force in trained cyclists. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 20(2), 232–237. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2023-0314
Publisher
Human Kinetics
Journal
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Research Unit
DOI
10.1123/ijspp.2023-0314
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
Accepted author manuscript version reprinted, by permission, from [International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, year, 2 (2): 232–237, https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2023-0314]. © 2025 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Series/Report no.
ISSN
1555-0265
EISSN
1555-0273
ISBN
ISMN
Gov't Doc
Test Link
Sponsors
Unfunded