Tramadol does not improve performance or impair motor function in trained cyclists

TY - JOUR

T1 - Tramadol does not improve performance or impair motor function in trained cyclists

AU - Bejder, Jacob

AU - Andersen, Andreas Breenfeldt

AU - Bonne, Thomas Christian

AU - Piil, Jacob Feder

AU - Hagen, Linn Camilla Hauan

AU - Dehnes, Yvette

AU - Eibye, Kasper Hvid

AU - Nybo, Lars

AU - Nordsborg, Nikolai Baastrup

N1 - Afventer publicering som [Epub ahead of print] samt tildeling af CURIS-nummer.

PY - 2020/5/1

Y1 - 2020/5/1

N2 - Purpose To investigate the hypothesis that a therapeutic oral dose of Tramadol improves cycling time trial performance and compromises motor-cognitive performance in highly trained cyclists. Methods Following two familiarization trials, 16 highly trained cyclists completed a preloaded time trial (1 h at 60% of peak power followed by a 15-km time trial) after ingestion of 100 mg Tramadol or placebo in a double-blind placebo-controlled counterbalanced crossover design separated by at least 4 d washout. Visuomotor tracking and math tasks were completed during the preload (n = 10) to evaluate effects on cognition and fine motor performance. Results Time trial mean power output (298 ± 42 W vs 294 ± 44 W) and performance (1474 ± 77 s vs 1483 ± 85 s) were similar with Tramadol and placebo treatment, respectively. In addition, there were no differences in perceived exertion, reported pain, blood pH, lactate, or bicarbonate concentrations across trials. Heart rate was higher (P < 0.001) during the Tramadol time trial (171 ± 8 bpm) compared with placebo (167 ± 9 bpm). None of the combined motor-cognitive tasks were impaired by Tramadol ingestion, in fact fine motor performance was slightly improved (P < 0.05) in the Tramadol trial compared with placebo. Conclusions In highly trained cyclists, ingestion of 100 mg Tramadol does not improve performance in a 15-km cycling time trial that was completed after a 1-h preload at 60% peak power. Additionally, a therapeutic dose of Tramadol does not compromise complex motor-cognitive or simple fine motor performances.

AB - Purpose To investigate the hypothesis that a therapeutic oral dose of Tramadol improves cycling time trial performance and compromises motor-cognitive performance in highly trained cyclists. Methods Following two familiarization trials, 16 highly trained cyclists completed a preloaded time trial (1 h at 60% of peak power followed by a 15-km time trial) after ingestion of 100 mg Tramadol or placebo in a double-blind placebo-controlled counterbalanced crossover design separated by at least 4 d washout. Visuomotor tracking and math tasks were completed during the preload (n = 10) to evaluate effects on cognition and fine motor performance. Results Time trial mean power output (298 ± 42 W vs 294 ± 44 W) and performance (1474 ± 77 s vs 1483 ± 85 s) were similar with Tramadol and placebo treatment, respectively. In addition, there were no differences in perceived exertion, reported pain, blood pH, lactate, or bicarbonate concentrations across trials. Heart rate was higher (P < 0.001) during the Tramadol time trial (171 ± 8 bpm) compared with placebo (167 ± 9 bpm). None of the combined motor-cognitive tasks were impaired by Tramadol ingestion, in fact fine motor performance was slightly improved (P < 0.05) in the Tramadol trial compared with placebo. Conclusions In highly trained cyclists, ingestion of 100 mg Tramadol does not improve performance in a 15-km cycling time trial that was completed after a 1-h preload at 60% peak power. Additionally, a therapeutic dose of Tramadol does not compromise complex motor-cognitive or simple fine motor performances.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Pain

KW - Opioid

KW - Endurance

KW - Cognitive

KW - Athletes

KW - Exercise

U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002217

DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002217

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31809408

SN - 0195-9131

JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

ER -