Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, 305-8574, Japan.
Advanced Research Initiative for Human High Performance (ARIHHP), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2024 Aug;124(8):2473-2487. doi: 10.1007/s00421-024-05463-w. Epub 2024 Apr 2.
We evaluated (1) whether participating in middle- and long-distance running races augments muscle soreness, oxygen cost, respiration, and exercise exertion during subsequent running, and (2) if post-race menthol application alleviates these responses in long-distance runners.
Eleven long-distance runners completed a 1500-m race on day 1 and a 3000-m race on day 2. On day 3 (post-race day), either a 4% menthol solution (Post-race menthol) or a placebo solution (Post-race placebo) serving as a vehicle control, was applied to their lower leg skin, and their perceptual and physiological responses were evaluated. The identical assessment with the placebo solution was also conducted without race participation (No-race placebo).
The integrated muscle soreness index increased in the Post-race placebo compared to the No-race placebo (P < 0.001), but this response was absent in the Post-race menthol (P = 0.058). Oxygen uptake during treadmill running tended to be higher (4.3%) in the Post-race placebo vs. No-race placebo (P = 0.074). Oxygen uptake was 5.4% lower in the Post-race menthol compared to the Post-race placebo (P = 0.018). Minute ventilation during treadmill running was 6.7-7.6% higher in the Post-race placebo compared to No-race placebo, whereas it was 6.6-9.0% lower in the Post-race menthol vs. Post-race placebo (all P ≤ 0.001). The rate of perceived exertion was 7.0% lower in the Post-race menthol vs. Post-race placebo (P = 0.007).
Middle- and long-distance races can subsequently elevate muscle soreness and induce respiratory and metabolic stress, but post-race menthol application to the lower legs can mitigate these responses and reduce exercise exertion in long-distance runners.
我们评估了（1）参加中长跑比赛是否会增加肌肉酸痛、耗氧量、呼吸和运动时的体力消耗，以及（2）赛后薄荷醇的应用是否能减轻长跑运动员的这些反应。
11 名长跑运动员在第 1 天进行 1500 米比赛，在第 2 天进行 3000 米比赛。在第 3 天（赛后），他们的小腿皮肤分别涂抹 4%的薄荷醇溶液（赛后薄荷醇）或作为载体对照的安慰剂溶液（赛后安慰剂），并评估他们的感知和生理反应。在没有比赛的情况下，也对安慰剂溶液进行了相同的评估（无赛安慰剂）。
与无赛安慰剂相比，赛后安慰剂组的综合肌肉酸痛指数增加（P<0.001），但赛后薄荷醇组没有这种反应（P=0.058）。在跑步机上跑步时，耗氧量的趋势是赛后安慰剂组比无赛安慰剂组高（4.3%）（P=0.074）。与赛后安慰剂组相比，赛后薄荷醇组的耗氧量低 5.4%（P=0.018）。在跑步机上跑步时，分钟通气量在赛后安慰剂组比无赛安慰剂组高 6.7-7.6%，而在赛后薄荷醇组比赛后安慰剂组低 6.6-9.0%（均 P≤0.001）。与赛后安慰剂组相比，赛后薄荷醇组的主观用力程度感觉降低了 7.0%（P=0.007）。
中长跑比赛后会增加肌肉酸痛，并引起呼吸和代谢应激，但赛后在小腿上涂抹薄荷醇可以减轻这些反应，并降低长跑运动员的运动强度。
