Effect of a short-term cycle ergometer sprint training against heavy and light resistances on intraocular pressure responses

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determinate the long-term effect of a cycle ergometer sprint training program against heavy and light resistances on baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), and on the acute IOP response to cycling sprints. Methods: A total 27 physically active males were randomly assigned to a heavy loads group (HLG, n=9), low loads group (LLG, n=9), and control group (CG, n=9). Participants performed 12 training sessions during 6 weeks (2 sessions per week), and each training session consisted in performing 8 cycling sprints against either heavy (HLG) or light (LLG) resistances. Before and after intervention, they performed an identical protocol, which consisted in performing maximal cycling sprints against 5 different resistances in random order. In these protocols, IOP was measured before and after each sprint by rebound tonometry. Results: A Bayesian analysis revealed that baseline IOP was reduced in the LLG after the intervention [Bayes factor (BF01)=0.043 and effect size (ES)=1.255; pretest=15.22±0.94 mm Hg and posttest=15.39±1.02 mm Hg], whereas the HLG did not manifest any baseline IOP change (BF01=2.363 and ES=−0.205; pretest=15.28±1.44 mm Hg and posttest=14.17±1.77 mm Hg). The acute IOP response to maximal sprints was modified for the HLG, showing a more stable IOP response with heavier loads (resistance, 4 and 5) after the intervention (BF01<0.01 in both cases, and ESs=1.847 and 1.920, respectively). Conclusions: A short-term cycle ergometer sprint training impacts long-term IOP depending on the level of resistance imposed, showing that training with low loads permits to reduce baseline IOP, whereas training with heavy loads attenuates the acute IOP changes after sprinting against heavy loads.