Participants Wanted – The effects anti-inflammatory asthma medication has on time-trial performance in non-asthmatic athletes

Are you a cyclist or triathlete in Kent? Be part of research investigating if anti-inflammatory asthma medication has an effect on time-trial performance in non-asthmatic athletes.

Asthma is a common condition to afflict athletes, with medication controlled by the World Anti-doping Agency. However, there is the potential for these medications to provide an inadvertent performance gain to users (with or without asthma). We are investigating anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid) asthma therapy and the effect on exercise performance, and you could be part of it!

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

  • Male-trained cyclists between 18-55 years old.
  • Already be engaging in cycling training three times per week (and for the last 2 years).
  • Should not be diagnosed with asthma (or exercise-induced-asthma) and free from heart disease, metabolic disease and musculoskeletal injury. A heath questionnaire will confirm your suitability.

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH INVOLVE?

You will be asked to come to the laboratory at the University of Kent, Gillingham on 7 mornings (spread over 7-weeks). You will complete some initial asthma tests (to confirm you do not have asthma) and a maximal cycling test. After a familiarisation session, you will the complete 5 different conditions of repeat testing, each one consuming either; an oral tablet, inhaled dose, a placebo of those conditions, or no treatment. You will also be required to provide saliva samples and fill in questionnaires leading up to, and after each experiment. The experimental trials involve a 40-km and 10-km cycling time-trial.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF TAKING PART?

  • Free respiratory assessment and assessment of your aerobic fitness (VO2 max Test) and multiple time-trial performances.
  • You will also be contributing to further the knowledge on the effect of glucocorticoid therapy on exercise performance.

INTERESTED? Please email Will: weg6@kent.ac.uk