Effect of whole-body microtitanium-treated garments on metabolic cost of exercise following strenuous hill running

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: Performance; Recovery; Running economy; Short latency reflex; Sports garments; Tendon stiffness.