Metabolic alkalosis, recovery and sprint performance

Pre-exercise alkalosis and an active recovery improve the physiological state of recovery through slightly different mechanisms (e.g. directly increasing extracellular bicarbonate (HCO3^-) vs. increasing blood flow), and combining the two conditions may provide even greater influence on blood acid-base recovery from high-intensity exercise. Nine subjects completed four trials (Placebo Active (PLAC A), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) Active (BICARB A), Placebo Passive (PLAC P) and NaHCO₃ Passive (BICARB P)), each consisting of three, 30-s maximal efforts with athree min recovery between each effort. Pre-exercisealkalosis was evident in both NaHCO3 conditions, as pH and HCO3^- were significantly higher than both Placebo conditions (pH: 7.46-0.04 vs. 7.39-0.02; HCO3^-: 28.8-1.9 vs. 23.2-1.4mmol-L¹; p<0.001). In terms of performance, significant interactions were observed for average speed (p<0.05), with higher speeds evident in the BICARB A condition (3.9-0.3 vs. 3.7-0.4m-s¹). Total distance covered was different (p=0.05), with post hoc differences evident between the BICARB A and PLAC P conditions (368-33 vs. 364-35m). These data suggest that successive 30-s high intensity performance may be improved when coupled with NaHCO₃ supplementation.