Short or Long High Intensity Training

Aerobic Short or Long High Intensity Interval Training - Does it Matter

To compare the effects of short and long high intensity interval training (HIT) conducted with the same total accumulated duration on physiological- and performance parameters during a 4-week training period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sports Performance; Cycling; Well-trained Athletes
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Training effects on aerobic output

Detailed Description

Studies among elite athletes have documented the importance of large amounts of training volume in order to perform at a high level in endurance sports. It is also well documented that both low intensity training (LIT), moderate intensity training (MIT) and high intensity training (HIT) should be included in the overall training efforts. It is well documented that HIT has a positive effect on the aerobic endurance among both elite athletes and recreational athletes.

Despite the fact that there is general agreement that HIT is an important part of the overall training, it is unclear how this part of the training should be organized in order to optimize the training effects. The adaptions of endurance performance seem to depend on both the intensity and the accumulated duration of the HIT sessions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of SI and LI training, including equal accumulated HIT duration, during a 4-week intervention period, conducted as 4x8-min with 2-min recovery periods, 4x(12x40/20-sec) with 2-min recovery periods and 4x(8x40/20-sec) with 2-min recovery periods, in different physiological- and performance parameters among well-trained cyclists.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 22
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Kristiansand, Norway, 4630
    • University of Agder

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• male < 40 years,
• peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) > 55 ml.kg-1.min-1,
• training volume >3 sessions per week (within cycling)
• absence of disease and injuries.

Exclusion Criteria:

• disease/injuries
• frequent absence of HIT sessions during the period.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: 4x8 min; 4x8-min intervals with 2-min recovery periods. The same accumulated duration of these three interval groups means that the total interval time is the same for each group: 4x8-min = 32 min	Other: Training effects on aerobic output; The cyclists were allowed to perform ad libitum low intensity (LIT) in addition to high intensity (HIT) sessions that were determined to each group. The cyclists completed 12 supervised HIT sessions during the intervention period, three HIT sessions per week with at least 48 hours between each HIT-session. All HIT sessions were performed as supervised group training sessions. Each HIT session started with an individual 30 minutes' warm up at low intensity (55-70% HRmax) interspersed by freely chosen progressive sprints. For all groups the power output during the recovery periods was 50 % of the power output used during work intervals. The cyclists in all groups were instructed to perform each interval session at their maximal sustainable intensity. Each session ended with 15-20 minutes' cool down (55-70% HRmax). All HIT sessions were supervised and performed in groups on the University of Agder's (UiA) premises at Spicheren fitness center in Kristiansand.
Other: 4x(8x40/20s); 4x(12x40/20-sec) intervals with 2-min recovery periods The same accumulated duration of these three interval groups means that the total interval time is the same for each group:4x(12x40/20-sec) = 32 min if the 20-sec recovery is not included in the total time of HIT	Other: Training effects on aerobic output; The cyclists were allowed to perform ad libitum low intensity (LIT) in addition to high intensity (HIT) sessions that were determined to each group. The cyclists completed 12 supervised HIT sessions during the intervention period, three HIT sessions per week with at least 48 hours between each HIT-session. All HIT sessions were performed as supervised group training sessions. Each HIT session started with an individual 30 minutes' warm up at low intensity (55-70% HRmax) interspersed by freely chosen progressive sprints. For all groups the power output during the recovery periods was 50 % of the power output used during work intervals. The cyclists in all groups were instructed to perform each interval session at their maximal sustainable intensity. Each session ended with 15-20 minutes' cool down (55-70% HRmax). All HIT sessions were supervised and performed in groups on the University of Agder's (UiA) premises at Spicheren fitness center in Kristiansand.
Other: 4x(12x40/20s); 4x(8x40/20-sec) intervals with 2-min recovery periods The same accumulated duration of these three interval groups means that the total interval time is the same for each group: 4x(8x40/20-sec) = 32 min if the 20-sec recovery is included in the total time of HIT	Other: Training effects on aerobic output; The cyclists were allowed to perform ad libitum low intensity (LIT) in addition to high intensity (HIT) sessions that were determined to each group. The cyclists completed 12 supervised HIT sessions during the intervention period, three HIT sessions per week with at least 48 hours between each HIT-session. All HIT sessions were performed as supervised group training sessions. Each HIT session started with an individual 30 minutes' warm up at low intensity (55-70% HRmax) interspersed by freely chosen progressive sprints. For all groups the power output during the recovery periods was 50 % of the power output used during work intervals. The cyclists in all groups were instructed to perform each interval session at their maximal sustainable intensity. Each session ended with 15-20 minutes' cool down (55-70% HRmax). All HIT sessions were supervised and performed in groups on the University of Agder's (UiA) premises at Spicheren fitness center in Kristiansand.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximal oxygen uptake	VO2max	4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional threshold power	FTP	4 weeks
Peak power output	PPO	4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Agder
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Monica K. Torstveit, Professor, Universitetet i Agder

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 15, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): December 20, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 29, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 30, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): September 3, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 3, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 30, 2019
• Last Verified: August 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cycling; maximal oxygen consumption; endurance performance; intermittent exercise; physiological adaptions; well-trained athletes
• Other Study ID Numbers: Aerobic short og long interval

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No