'The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of sodium bicarbonate on non-motorised treadmill repeated sprint performance of soccer players. Eight male subjects consumed 500mg /kg of either sodium bicarbonate or a placebo 90min prior to performing five 30s sprints on a non-motorised treadmill with 1min rest between sprints. Blood lactate was measured prior to exercise, immediately after and 3min after the final sprint. No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed between the bicarbonate and placebo group in peak power, mean power, mean speed, work done and distance travelled. For all variables trends of higher values in the bicarbonate group were detected. The bicarbonate group had significantly higher (p<0.05) post-exercise blood lactate values than the placebo group. These preliminary findings suggest that sodium bicarbonate loading does not have a statistically significant effect on intermittent repeated sprint running performance. However, trends demonstrated a greater mean speed and distance traveled after bicarbonate loading. Blood lactate accumulation was greater after bicarbonate ingestion suggesting a greater reliance on glycolytic pathways during repeated running sprints.
© Copyright 2006 Journal of Human Movement Studies. Teviot-Kimpton. Published by Teviot Scientific Publications. All rights reserved.