The effect of simultaneous physical and brain endurance training on fatigue and exercise tolerance inactive people

It seems that the combination of brain endurance training and physical endurance training can increases endurance exercise performance throughout reducing rating of perceived exertion more than solely physical endurance training. The aim of this research was to study the effect of physical endurance training, and brain endurance training on fatigue and exercise tolerance in active people.

20 healthy volunteers (14 men and 6 women) were assigned into two groups as: physical endurance training + brain endurance training and physical endurance training. Both groups trained on a cycle ergometer for 60 minutes at 60-75 heart rate reserve. Whilst cycling, the brain endurance training group performed a mental exertion on a computer. Both groups trained 3-4 times a week for 24 sessions. Maximal oxygen consumption during an incremental test and exercise tolerance with constant load exhausting test were measured at pre and post training. Rating of perceived exertion and heart rate were recorded every two minutes during time to exhaustion test. Data were analyzed using mixed model analyze of variance and significant level was set as p˂0.05.

Maximal oxygen consumption increased in both groups (p=0.01); however, for time to exhaustion variable it showed more increasing in the brain endurance training and physical endurance training group than in the physical endurance training group (p=0.01). Brain endurance training and physical endurance training group compared to the physical endurance training group indicated significantly reduction on the rating of perceived exertion during time to exhaustion test (p=0.01).

The results of this study provide evidence that the combination of the brain endurance training and physical endurance training than physical endurance training can increased more endurance exercise performance throughout decrease rating of perceived exertion.