Interval-Training in Sports Medicine

Many observations have demonstrated great heterogeneity in the magnitude of the response to the physical exercise stimulus. Only a few studies have investigated the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the prevalence of non-responders (NRs) in adolescents while considering health-related fitness measurements and other co-variables. Therefore, the aim of the current work was twofold: (1) to assess the effects of ten weeks of school-based HIIT on the prevalence of responders (Rs) and NRs for body composition, resting blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal fitness, and (2) to assess the relationship of this prevalence with sex, body mass category, and biological maturation status, while estimating the likelihood of a response. Adolescents aged 16 years (n = 73) were included in the study. Waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage (BFP), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), BP, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and musculoskeletal fitness were the primary outcomes. Co-variables included sex, body mass index (BMI), and maturity offset. The percentages of the Rs and NRs were analyzed based on changes (Δ) between post-intervention and pre-intervention values. The typical error (TE) method was used to identify Rs and NRs. Results showed a variation in the relative size of changes (% of changes) depending on the variable and sex. The greatest changes were observed in females’ abdomen muscle strength (Δ% = 23.89%), and the difference from that of males (Δ% = 5.98%) was statistically significant (p < 0.001) with very large effect size of (Cohen’s d = 0.941). Similar significant differences in relative changes were observed in body composition, but in the reverse direction. Males gained more from HIIT in the decrease in the body fat percentage (Δ% = −8.24%) and increase in skeletal muscle mass (Δ% = 3.38%) comparing to females (Δ% = 0.46, p = 0.040 and Δ% = 1.06%, p = 0.007, respectively). Effect size for body fat was small (Cohen’s d = 0.469), and for skeletal muscle mass it was moderate (Cohen’s d = −0.659). The results also showed positive significant differences in the prevalence of Rs compared to NRs in BFP, SMM, systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), CRF, and abdominal muscular strength (ABS) (p = 0.047, p = 0.047, p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.014, and p = 0.014, respectively). The effect was greatest and largest for SBP (Cohen’s ω = 0.67). Sex was related to the prevalence of Rs for ABS and close to significance for SMM. More males than females benefited from HIIT in SMM (p = 0.058), but more females than males had ABS benefits (p = 0.050). Males were more likely (2.5-fold) to be Rs than females in SMM. BMI was not related to the prevalence of Rs and NRs. Biological maturation was related to the prevalence of Rs and NRs in SMM (p = 0.036) and SBP (p = 0.016). In SBP, 100% of the early matured derived benefit from HIIT, but the effect size was small (Cramer’s V = 0.27). Those who maturated later were more likely (almost 70%) to be Rs. Thus, the HIIT program introduced to a typical physical education (PE) lesson can be considered partially effective. Therefore, there is a need to continue the search for an optimal and effective program for all health-related parameters. The close relationship between analyzed values and sex and biological maturation, but not BMI, indicates that the intervention programs should be tailored specifically for males and females. Full article

This study assessed the post-exercise hypotension (PEH) effect in a sample of matched young and older adults after different sprint interval training (SIT) protocols. From forty-three participants enrolled in this study, twelve younger (24 ± 3 years) and 12 older (50 ± 7 years) participants, matched for the body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and VO₂max-percentiles, were selected. The participants completed two SIT protocols consisting of 4 × 30 s exercise bouts interspersed by either one (SIT1) or three minutes (SIT3) of active rest. The peripheral systolic (pSBP) and diastolic (pDBP) blood pressure, central systolic (cSBP) and diastolic (cDBP) blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and heart rate (HR) were obtained before and at different measurement time points (t5, t15, t30, t45) after the exercise. No significant time × group interactions were detected in pSBP (p = 0.242, η² = 0.060), pDBP (p = 0.379, η² = 0.046), cSBP (p = 0.091, η² = 0.861), cDBP (p = 0.625, η² = 0.033), PWV (p = 0.133, η² = 0.076), and HR (p = 0.190, η² = 0.123) after SIT1. For SIT3 no significant time × group interactions could be detected for pSBP (p = 0.773, η² = 0.020), pDBP (p = 0.972, η² = 0.006), cSBP (p = 0.239, η² = 0.060), cDBP (p = 0.535, η² = 0.036), PWV (p = 0.402, η² = 0.044), and HR (p = 0.933, η² = 0.009). Matched samples of young and older adults reveal similar PEH effects after HIIT. Accordingly, age does not seem to affect PEH after SIT. These results show that rest interval length and age modulate the PEH effect after SIT. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of school-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in children with obesity. A total of 40 students (11.0 ± 0.6 years; 20 boys) were randomized into an intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). The IG group performed a 12-week HIIT intervention with three sessions per week. Each session included 18 min of training (three sets of eight bouts of 15 s run at 100% maximal aerobic speed (MAS) separated by eight bouts of 15 s recovery run at 50% MAS) in PE class; the CG group were instructed to continue their normal behaviors. All subjects had indices of body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), body fat percentage (%BF), fat free mass (FFM), VAT, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) measured at baseline and post-intervention. The cooperation of students was high, and all 40 students were included in the final analysis. A significant group–time interaction was determined in body composition (p < 0.05), with a significant decrease in BM (−3.4 ± 1.4 kg, p = 0.001; η² = 0.63), BMI (−1.7 ± 0.5, p = 0.001; η² = 0.58), %BF (−3.3 ± 1.4, p = 0.001; η² = 0.54), and FM (−3.2 ± 1.4 kg, p = 0.001; η² = 0.69), and VAT (−22.4 ± 9.8 cm²; p = 0.001; η² = 0.61) in the IG. Furthermore, VO_2max exhibited a significant increase in the IG (4.5 ± 1.6 mL/kg/min, p = 0.001; η² = 0.84) and CG groups (1.7 ± 1.1 mL/kg/min, p = 0.001; η² = 0.44). Integrating regular school-based HIIT sessions is a suitable method to improve body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical activity in students with obesity. Trial Registration: ChiCTR2100048737. Full article

Background: Blood lipid profiles consist of total cholesterol (TC) and its fractions, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL), and triglycerides (TG). For several decades, studies have examined the effects of various factors on lipid status and its association with the risk of developing arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effects of increased physical activity on cardiovascular health have been demonstrated by appropriate modulation of lipid profiles. For individuals with low physical activity, the literature recommends engaging in various forms of training that can improve physical fitness and resting lipid status. The aim of the study was to examine whether a specific original training program improves lipid profiles to the levels recommended for the male population. Methods: The study involved two equal (n = 15) groups of men (experimental and control groups, aged 35–40 years). The experimental group performed 60-min training sessions for 8 weeks (3 times a week) including a set of strength and endurance exercises. Before and after the training program, blood was drawn from both groups for serum determination of TC, HDL, LDL non-HDL, and TG, and a battery of four field physical performance tests was administered. Results: Statistically significant decreases (TC by 19.3%, TG by 23.7%, LDL by 15%), a non-significant decrease (10% for non-HDL), and no change for HDL were found in the experimental group. Control group showed a statistically significant decrease, by 7.4% for TC. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed training in improving health indices. Conclusions: The 8-week training program met the health-related fitness paradigm recommended for physical activity in men aged 35–40 years. After the completion of the program, all the participants expressed their satisfaction from participating in a health-promoting experiment. Full article

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared body compositional changes, including fat mass (FM), body fat percentage (BF%), and fat-free mass (FFM), between different types of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (cycling vs. overground running vs. treadmill running) as well as to a control (i.e., no exercise) condition. Meta-analyses were carried out using a random-effects model. The I² index was used to assess the heterogeneity of RCTs. Thirty-six RCTs lasting between 3 to 15 weeks were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis. RCTs that examined the effect of HIIT type on FM, BF%, and FFM were sourced from online databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to 21 June 2022. HIIT (all modalities combined) induced a significant reduction in FM (weighted mean difference [WMD]: −1.86 kg, 95% CI: −2.55 to −1.18, p = 0.001) despite a medium between-study heterogeneity (I² = 63.3, p = 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed cycling and overground running reduced FM (WMD: −1.72 kg, 95% CI: −2.41 to −1.30, p = 0.001 and WMD: −4.25 kg, 95% CI: −5.90 to −2.61, p = 0.001, respectively); however, there was no change with treadmill running (WMD: −1.10 kg, 95% CI: −2.82 to 0.62, p = 0.210). There was a significant reduction in BF% with HIIT (all modalities combined) compared to control (WMD: −1.53%, 95% CI: −2.13, −0.92, p = 0.001). All forms of HIIT also decreased BF%; however, overground running induced the largest overall effect (WMD: −2.80%, 95% CI: −3.89 to −1.71, p = 0.001). All types of HIIT combined also induced an overall significant improvement in FFM (WMD: 0.51 kg, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.95, p = 0.025); however, only cycling interventions resulted in a significant increase in FFM compared to other exercise modalities (WMD: 0.63 kg, 95% CI: 0.17 to 1.09, p = 0.007). Additional subgroup analyses suggest that training for more than 8 weeks, at least 3 sessions per week, with work intervals less than 60 s duration and separated by ≤90 s active recovery are more effective for eliciting favorable body composition changes. Results from this meta-analysis demonstrate favorable body composition outcomes following HIIT (all modalities combined) with overall reductions in BF% and FM and improved FFM observed. Overall, cycling-based HIIT may confer the greatest effects on body composition due to its ability to reduce BF% and FM while increasing FFM. Full article