Sodium bicarbonate improved CrossFit® Benchmark Fran, but not subsequent 500 m rowing performance

Foam Roller Post-High-Intensity Training for CrossFit Athletes: Does It Really Help with Recovery?

Background/Objectives: Foam rolling is a new and emergent recovery tool in sports. The aim of this study seeks to compare the acute effects of foam rolling and passive rest on recovery markers in CrossFit athletes following a high-intensity workout. Methods: A quasi-experimental crossover study design was completed with 14 amateur CrossFit athletes. Participants completed the FRAN CrossFit WOD and then completed a recovery protocol including either a foam roller or passive rest. Heart rate, blood lactate, and perceived exertion were collected at three time points (pre-workout, post-WOD, and post-recovery). Results: The foam rolling group had no significant differences from the passive rest group on recovery markers. Blood lactate increased significantly post-WOD in both groups, yet there was no significant difference in blood lactate post-recovery. Perceived exertion and heart rate had a similar pattern to blood lactate. Conclusions: High-intensity training causes significant physiological changes; however, foam rolling offers no additional benefit over passive rest for lactate clearance, heart rate recovery, and perceived exertion. CrossFit athletes can choose their preferred method of recovery based on personal preference, as foam rolling neither enhances nor hinders recovery.

Acute metformin intake on exercise performance in healthy participants during functional fitness training

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to assess whether prior intake of metformin enhances performance in the FRAN workout, a popular Functional Fitness Training protocol.

METHODS

Fourteen men (mean±SD: 24.2±3.5 years; height: 173.3±7.8 cm; weight: 78.3±14.1 kg; body mass index: 25.9±3.0 kg/m2) participated. During the first visit, anthropometric measurements were taken, and participants performed the FRAN workout. After 72-96 hours, a retest was conducted to establish test-retest reliability. In the third and fourth visits, participants completed the FRAN workout under two conditions: metformin and placebo, using a crossover, counterbalanced, and double-blind design. The FRAN workout consisted of barbell thrusters (43.2 kg) and bodyweight butterfly pull-ups, performed in 21, 15, and 9 repetitions across three rounds.

RESULTS

Significant differences were observed in partial times between rounds (F=28.91; P<0.01), but no significant differences were found between metformin and placebo conditions (F=0.08; P=0.77) or interaction effects (F=0.87; P=0.42). Similarly, total time differed significantly between rounds (F=158.04; P<0.01), with no significant differences between conditions (F=0.02; P=0.88) or interaction effects (F=0.30; P=0.73).

CONCLUSIONS

Acute metformin intake did not enhance FRAN workout performance, nor did it affect heart rate or perceived exertion. Coaches and athletes should consider that metformin's impact on exercise performance appears nonexistent, and its use in this context might not provide the desired ergogenic effect.

Music influences performance without increasing perceived exertion during high-intensity rowing intervals: a cross-over design study

Objectives

This study assessed how exposure to slow (SBM) versus fast beat music (FBM) during high-intensity rowing intervals affects performance, heart rate (HR), lactate levels, relative perceived exertion (RPE), and recovery.

Methods

The A/B crossover design involved 21 participants performing 5 × 500 m rowing intervals under two conditions: FBM and SBM. Primary endpoint was the difference in total rowing time. Secondary endpoints included average HR, average RPE as well as rowing interval times, RPE, and HR per interval. For exploratory purpose, HR and lactate drop during the initial 5 min post completion was analyzed.

Results

Listening to FBM resulted in significantly shorter total rowing times (p = 0.009, rB = 0.59), especially during the 1st interval. The 1st interval was also significantly faster than intervals 2-5 (p < 0.001), with the greatest performance drop between the 1st and 2nd interval during FBM. Average HR was significantly lower when listening to SBM (p = 0.03, rB = 0.48), while average RPE showed no significant difference (p = 0.47, rB = 0.02). Lactate values after interval 5 were significantly lower in SBM (p = 0.05, rB = 0.41), but no significant difference was found for lactate drop (p = 0.21, rB = 0.21). However, participants exhibited a higher HR drop rate with SBM (p = 0.05, rB = 0.42).

Conclusion

FBM improved performance without increasing RPE, while SBM proved superior for recovery. Systematic customization of music based on intended training stimuli holds broad potential for the competitive sports, fitness, and health sector.