Abstract
Objectives
To determine the effect size of wearing sports garments treated with microscopic titanium
particles (AQUA TITAN) during recovery from strenuous running on the restoration of
running economy during subsequent exercise.
Design
A double-blind crossover was used to determine the effect of AQUA TITAN on running
metabolic cost in 10 healthy men. Participants performed 40 min of treadmill running comprising 2 × (10 min at 5% and 10 min at −10% grade), followed by random allocation to skin-tight nylon–polyurethane
AQUA TITAN treated or non-treated placebo garments covering the torso, limbs, and
feet. Garments were worn continuously throughout the next 48-h, during which time
participants rested (day 2) then completed a graded treadmill run to determine metabolic
outcome (day 3).
Methods
Body-weight normalised running metabolic cost was evaluated by indirect calorimetry
and the effect size referenced against the smallest meaningful change in economy (0.9%)
for improvement in distance running performance.
Results
The fatigue effect while wearing control garments on metabolic cost at 48-h was small
(2.2% 95%CL ±1.2%). In contrast, AQUA TITAN garments most certainly reduced running
metabolic cost (−3.1% ±0.9%) vs. control. Additionally, AQUA TITAN increased the respiratory
exchange ratio (0.011 ±0.005) and lowered minute ventilation at intensities below
the ventilatory threshold (−4.0% ±0.9%).
Conclusions
AQUA TITAN garments worn during recovery from strenuous exercise improved subsequent
running economy to a magnitude likely to restore endurance performance. Future research
should verify the magnitude of garment effects on performance outcomes, and on identifying
the acute or passive neural, musculotendinous or metabolic mechanisms responsible.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Science and Medicine in SportAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
Hirata Y, Ueda Y, Takase H et al. inventors. High functional water containing titanium and method and apparatus for producing the same. New Zealand Patent NZ 522431; 2004.
- Influence of aquatitan tape on nerve cells of the central nervous system.J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2008; 43: 1-4
- Relaxant effect of microtitan via regulation of autonomic nerve activity in mice.Life Sci. 2009; 85: 408-411
Rowlands DS. Uniquely processed titanium permeated tape increases Achilles tendon compliance and short latency response following running. Med Sci Sport Exerc 2012; Suppl: 44(5) Supplement: 634.
- Nanometer-thin TiO2 enhances skeletal muscle cell phenotype and behavior.Int J Nanomed. 2011; 6 ([Epub 2011/11/25]): 2191-2203
- Aquatitan garments extend joint range of motion without effect on run performance.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010; 42: 2273-2281
- Submaximal and maximal working capacity of elite distance runners, Part I: cardiorespiratory aspects.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1977; 301: 310-322
- Factors affecting running economy in trained distance runners.Sports Med. 2004; 34: 465-485
- Optimal muscle fascicle length and tendon stiffness for maximising gastrocnemius efficiency during human walking and running.J Theor Biol. 2008; 252: 662-673
- In vivo achilles tendon loading during jumping in humans.Eur J Appl Physiol. 1995; 71: 453-458
- The role of the stretch reflex in the gastrocnemius muscle during human locomotion at various speeds.J Appl Physiol. 2007; 103: 1030-1036
- Isometric contractions reduce plantar flexor moment, Achilles tendon stiffness, and neuromuscular activity but remove the subsequent effects of stretch.J Appl Physiol. 2009; 107: 1181-1189
- DOMS-associated changes in ankle and knee joint dynamics during running.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004; 36: 560-566
- Validity and reliability of combining three methods to determine ventilatory threshold.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001; 33 ([Epub 2001/11/02]): 1841-1848
- Measurement of substrate oxidation during exercise by means of gas exchange measurements.Int J Sports Med. 2005; 26: S1-S10
- The effects of a single bout of downhill running and ensuing delayed onset of muscle soreness on running economy performed 48 h later.Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003; 90 ([Epub 2003/06/05]): 29-34
- Progressive statistics for studies in sport medicine and exercise science.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009; 41: 3-13
- Energetics of best performances in middle-distance running.J Appl Physiol. 1993; 74: 2318-2324
- Variability of competitive performance of distance runners.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001; 33: 1588-1592
- Is Achilles tendon compliance optimised for maximum muscle efficiency during locomotion?.J Biomech. 2007; 40: 1768-1775
- Tendon elasticity and muscle function.Comp Biochem Physiol A: Physiol. 2002; 133: 1001-1011
- Eccentric activation and muscle damage: biomechanical and physiological considerations during downhill running.Br J Sports Med. 1995; 29 ([Epub 1995/06/01]): 89-94
- Muscle soreness during running-biomechanical and physiological considerations.Int J Sport Biomech. 1991; 7: 125-137
- Muscle tenderness and peak torque changes after downhill running following a prior bout of isokinetic eccentric exercise.J Sports Sci. 1996; 14: 291-299
- Sarcomeric myosin isoforms: fine tuning of a molecular motor.Physiology. 2000; 15: 26-33
- New perspectives concerning feedback influences on cardiorespiratory control during rhythmic exercise and on exercise performance.J Physiol. 2012; 590: 4129-4144https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2012.233908
- Improved running economy following intensified training correlates with reduced ventilatory demands.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998; 30: 1250-1256
- Regulatory interactions between muscle and the immune system during muscle regeneration.Am J Physiol Reg Int Comp Physiol. 2010; 298: R1173-R1187
- Triceps surae short latency stretch reflexes contribute to ankle stiffness regulation during human running.PLoS ONE. 2011; 6: e23917
- Reduced stretch reflex sensitivity and muscle stiffness after long-lasting stretch-shortening cycle exercise in humans.Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1998; 78: 403-410
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 18, 2013
Accepted:
March 15,
2013
Received in revised form:
March 2,
2013
Received:
October 4,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
