Morning endurance training induces superior performance adaptations compared with afternoon training in mice

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Authors: Stuart J. Hesketh, Collin M. Douglas, Xiping Zhang, Christopher A. Wolff, Casey Sexton, Elizabeth S. Nowicki, Karyn Esser
Cited by: 2
References: 41

Abstract

This study demonstrates that endurance training in the early-active phase induces greater performance adaptations than late-active phase training in mice, resulting in overcoming diurnal differences in exercise performance, despite lower absolute training volumes. These findings reveal exercise timing influences training efficiency, likely via circadian regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism. This work identifies time-of-day as a biologically relevant and underappreciated variable contributing to the heterogeneity of exercise responses, even in tightly controlled preclinical models.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Genetics and Physical Performance Exercise and Physiological Responses Sports Performance and Training

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Applied Physiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Volume
140
Issue
4
Pages
993–1005
Publication date
2 March 2026
Language
EN