Hamidreza Barzegarpoor, Hamid Rajabi, Saied Mohammadi, Rana Fayazmilani,
Volume 22, Issue 27 (8-2024)
Abstract
Performing a mental exertion before and during an exercise increase fatigue indices. One of the important factors in inducing fatigue indices is the type of mental effort engaged. So, the purpose of the present study is comparing the effects of performing types of mental exertion during cycling exercise on fatigue indicators. Methods: 10 cyclist men (with average age 34.5 ± 4.5 kg, height 177 ± 4.5cm, peak power output 236 ± 36 W) invited for 5 different sessions. In the first session, anthropometric characteristics and of cycling peak power output have determined. In the next four sessions, cycling for 45-min at 65% PPO on the cycle ergometer with (Stroop, AX-CPT and PVT) or without (watching a movie) mental exertion. Rate of perceived exertion and heart rate were recorded while cycling every 10 min and cortisol concentration was measured before and 30 min after exercise finished. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to analyzing data. Results: Performing 45 minutes of Stroop mental exertion during cycling exercise increased effort perception, mental demand in the NASA questionnaire, and cortisol concentration compared to cycling exercise alone (P˂0/05) but there is no differences between AX-CPT and PVT to cycling exercise alone . Conclusion: The results of present study showed that performing different mental effort simultaneously with the cycling exercise depending on the amount of challenge and their duration may affect some of the fatigue indices.
