Leg fidgeting enhances blood lactate clearance following maximal anaerobic exercise

Low intensity active recovery such as walking appears to be optimal for the clearance of blood lactate (BLa) concentration following high intensity exercise. However, within a sporting context, competition rules or procedural impracticalities often mean walking is not possible. Leg fidgeting during sitting has been shown to increase leg blood flow, which may impact BLa clearance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether leg fidgeting stimulates BLa clearance following high intensity exercise. Using a randomized crossover design, fifteen (7 female) university athletes performed a 30 s Wingate test followed by 15 min of either passive seated rest, or seated leg fidgeting. BLa, heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed pre, immediately post and post 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 min. There was a significant (p < 0.05) condition × time interaction for BLa. Post hoc analysis found that leg fidgeting caused a significantly greater reduction in BLa compared to sitting at post 6 (fidget 9.9 ± 2.6 vs. sitting 9.9 ± 2.2 mmol·L⁻¹), 9 (9.3 ± 2.3 vs. 9.9 ± 2.1 mmol·L⁻¹), 12 (8.8 ± 2.3 vs. 9.5 ± 2.2 mmol·L⁻¹) and 15 (7.6 ± 2.1 vs. 8.6 ± 2.2 mmol·L⁻¹) min respectively. Overall, leg fidgeting improved BLa clearance by 10% more than passive recovery. No significant interactions were found for HR or RPE. Following high intensity exercise, leg fidgeting may be considered a useful alternative to whole body active recovery when walking is not permitted.