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[RC] Taper - Ridecamp Guest

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Authors L Thomas, T Busso
Title   A theoretical study of taper characteristics to optimize performance
Full source     Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2005, Vol 37, Iss 
9, pp 1615-1621

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the training factors that could 
affect taper efficiency. The analysis was done using simulations from a 
nonlinear model of the training effects on performance giving an individual 
optimal daily training (ODT) Methods: Training responses were simulated using 
data from six subjects obtained in a previous training experiment (15-wk 
program including 3 wk without training). Assuming first a steady state with 
training equal to ODT, the taper was simulated with various step training 
reductions up to 100% of previous training. Overload period (OT) was then 
featured by a 20% step increase in training during 28 d before the taper. 
Finally, a taper with step reduction was compared with progressive reduction 
Results: The taper allowed performance gains if training was higher than a 
minimal level. The best performance without OT preceding the taper was reached 
with a load reduction of 30.8  11.8% and a duration of 19.3  2.3 d. The best 
performance with OT preceding the taper was significantly higher than without 
OT (P < 0.02) and was obtained with a significantly greater load reduction and 
duration, 39.3  9.9% and 28.0  5.1 d respectively. The best performance with a 
progressive load reduction was significantly higher than with a step reduction 
only with OT before the taper (102.2  1.7 vs 101.8  1.5% of performance with 
ODT, P < 0.005) Conclusion: Greater training volume and/or intensity before the 
taper would allow higher performance gains, but would demand a greater 
reduction of the training load over a longer period. The results also pointed 
out the importance of training adaptations during the taper, in addition to 
fatigue dissipation.


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