REHIT Versus SMIT in Sedentary Young Women (REHIT)

Effects of Reduced-exertion High-intensity Training Versus Short Moderate Intensity Training on Functional Capacity and Physical Activity Enjoyment in Sedentary Young Women A Randomized Trial

Reduced-exertion high-intensity training (REHIT) is a novel form of exercise known for being non-classical, time-efficient, and effective on different populations. However, REHIT was scarcely tested on sedentary women with mortality risks. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of REHIT versus short moderate-intensity training (SMIT) on functional capacity, resting heart rate (RHR), and activity enjoyment in sedentary young women.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sedentary Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Reduced-exertion high intensity training; Other: Short moderate intensity training

Detailed Description

The aim of the study is to compare the effects of reduced-exertion high-intensity training (REHIT) versus short moderate-intensity training (SMIT) on functional capacity, resting heart rate (RHR), and activity enjoyment in sedentary young women. Therefore, sedentary young women will be randomly allocated to either a: i) REHIT group or ii) SMIT group. Both groups will perform an intervention over 6 weeks duration for 10 minutes each session for 2 sessions/week, but with different intensities (REHIT or SMIT). Both forms of exercise will be conducted on a cycle ergometer with the subjects monitored throughout the intervention. Before and after the 3-week intervention, functional capacity (6-minute walking test) and RHR will be measured. Additionally, physical activity enjoyment (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale) will be assessed after the intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Valencia, Spain, 46010
    • University of Valencia

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women.
• Age between 18 and 25 years old.
• Those who score a low physical activity level (< 600 METS min/week) in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who suffer from musculoskeletal.
• Women who suffer from neurological diseases.
• Those who are taking medications.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Reduced-exertion high intensity training group; The REHIT part will consist of maximum cycling sprints of all-out exercise at 100% of the HRmax, increasing for up to 10 seconds, 15 seconds on week two and 20 seconds on week three.	Other: Reduced-exertion high intensity training; The intervention of the REHIT group will consist of three parts: i) 3 minutes of warm-up part at 50% of HRmax obtained in the effort test; ii) 3 min 20 sec to 3 min 40 sec of REHIT; and iii) 3 minutes of cool-down at 50% of HRmax obtained in the effort test. The REHIT part will consist of maximum cycling sprints of all-out exercise at 100% of the HRmax, increasing for up to 10 seconds, 15 seconds on week two and 20 seconds on week three. Then, 3 minutes of active rest at 50% of HRmax. Finally, 10 seconds of all-out exercise at 100% of the HRmax, rising to 15 seconds on week two and 20 seconds on week three.
Active Comparator: Short moderate intensity training group; The SMIT part of the session will consist of 6 minutes of moderate intensity exercise at 60-70% HRmax.	Other: Short moderate intensity training; The SMIT group will receive a short moderate-intensity training with the same warm-up and cool-down exercises as the REHIT group. In addition, the main part of the session consisted of 6 minutes of moderate intensity exercise at 60-70% HRmax obtained in the effort test. In addition, the main part of the session increases 3 min every week as 6 min for the first 2 weeks, 9 min for the 3rd and 4th weeks, and 12 min for the last two weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional capacity	It will be measured using the 6-minutes walking test (6MWT). Participants will be instructed to walk as quickly as possible along a 30-meter hallway for a duration of six minutes without running. Then, the distance in meters they cover will be registered. The greater the number of meters run, the better the functional capacity.	Baseline
Functional capacity	It will be measured using the 6-minutes walking test (6MWT). Participants will be instructed to walk as quickly as possible along a 30-meter hallway for a duration of six minutes without running. Then, the distance in meters they cover will be registered. The greater the number of meters run, the better the functional capacity.	After the intervention (3 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Resting heart rate	It will be measured with a patient monitor (ProAct PC-3000 Patient Monitor, Medisave, UK).	Baseline
Resting heart rate	It will be measured with a patient monitor (ProAct PC-3000 Patient Monitor, Medisave, UK).	After the intervention (3 weeks)
Physical activity enjoyment	To assess enjoyment, a modified version of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) will be used. In this questionnaire, 17 items are scored on a 7-point bipolar scale, with an overall enjoyment score ranging from 17 (not enjoyable) to 68 (neutral) and 119 (enjoyable).	Baseline
Physical activity enjoyment	To assess enjoyment, a modified version of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) will be used. In this questionnaire, 17 items are scored on a 7-point bipolar scale, with an overall enjoyment score ranging from 17 (not enjoyable) to 68 (neutral) and 119 (enjoyable).	After the intervention (3 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Valencia
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elena Marqués Sulé, PhD, Univeristy of Valencia

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Metcalfe RS, Atef H, Mackintosh K, McNarry M, Ryde G, Hill DM, Vollaard NBJ. Time-efficient and computer-guided sprint interval exercise training for improving health in the workplace: a randomised mixed-methods feasibility study in office-based employees. BMC Public Health. 2020 Mar 12;20(1):313. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8444-z.
• Ramirez-Velez R, Hernandez-Quinones PA, Tordecilla-Sanders A, Alvarez C, Ramirez-Campillo R, Izquierdo M, Correa-Bautista JE, Garcia-Hermoso A, Garcia RG. Effectiveness of HIIT compared to moderate continuous training in improving vascular parameters in inactive adults. Lipids Health Dis. 2019 Feb 4;18(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s12944-019-0981-z.
• Metcalfe RS, Tardif N, Thompson D, Vollaard NB. Changes in aerobic capacity and glycaemic control in response to reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) are not different between sedentary men and women. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016 Nov;41(11):1117-1123. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0253. Epub 2016 Jul 7.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): April 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 16, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 24, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 25, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 25, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 24, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: High-intensity training; Moderate intensity training; Sedentary young women
• Other Study ID Numbers: 035/3/20

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