Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise Intensity on Lower-Limb Muscle Strength and Power in Youth Gymnasts

Intensity-Dependent Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Lower-Limb Muscle Strength and Power in Elite Male Youth Gymnasts: A Randomized Crossover Trial

This study investigates the acute effects of different aerobic exercise intensities on lower-limb muscle strength and power in elite male youth gymnasts. Aerobic exercise is commonly included in gymnastics training to improve fitness and recovery, but performing aerobic exercise immediately before strength- and power-demanding activities may temporarily influence neuromuscular performance.

Eighteen nationally certified male youth gymnasts aged 15 to 18 years participated in a randomized crossover trial. Each participant completed three treadmill-based aerobic exercise conditions on separate days: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and low-intensity steady-state exercise (LSD). Muscle strength and power were assessed before and 15 minutes after each exercise condition using validated force-platform tests, including vertical jumps and isometric strength assessment.

The results of this study will help clarify how aerobic exercise intensity influences short-term strength and power performance in youth gymnasts and may inform evidence-based decisions on training sequencing and warm-up strategies in gymnastics practice.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Acute Neuromuscular Responses to Aerobic Exercise in Elite Youth Gymnasts
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training; Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training; Behavioral: Low-Intensity Steady-State Exercise

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized crossover trial designed to examine the acute, intensity-dependent effects of aerobic exercise on lower-limb muscle strength, power, and power endurance in elite male youth gymnasts. In high-performance gymnastics training, aerobic conditioning is frequently combined with strength and technical training within the same day. However, the immediate neuromuscular effects of aerobic exercise performed at different intensities remain unclear in youth power-oriented athletes.

Eighteen elite male youth gymnasts (aged 15-18 years), free from musculoskeletal injury and with national-level competitive experience, were recruited. After baseline assessments, each participant completed three aerobic exercise conditions in a randomized order, with a minimum washout period of 72 hours between sessions. The exercise conditions included high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and low-intensity steady-state exercise (LSD), all performed on a motorized treadmill. Exercise intensity was individually prescribed based on maximal heart rate and maximal aerobic speed determined during baseline testing.

Lower-limb muscle strength and power were assessed before and 15 minutes after each exercise condition using force-platform-based tests, including countermovement jump, squat jump, drop jump, repeated countermovement jumps, and isometric mid-thigh pull. Subjective fatigue and muscle discomfort were also recorded using standardized rating scales.

The primary objective of the study is to compare the acute changes in explosive power, power endurance, and maximal strength following aerobic exercise performed at different intensities. This study focuses on short-term neuromuscular responses rather than long-term training adaptations. Findings from this trial are expected to provide practical evidence for optimizing the sequencing of aerobic and strength-power training in elite youth gymnastics.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 18
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Shanghai Municipality
    • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200438
      • Shanghai University of Sport

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male youth gymnasts aged 15 to 18 years.
• Nationally certified or competitively trained gymnasts with regular training experience.
• Free from musculoskeletal injury within the past six months.
• Able to complete treadmill running and strength and power testing.
• Written informed consent provided by participants and their legal guardians.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury.
• History of cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurological disorders.
• Use of medications or supplements that could affect neuromuscular performance.
• Inability to complete all exercise conditions or testing procedures.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT); Participants complete a high-intensity interval treadmill running protocol consisting of repeated short bouts performed at high intensity. Exercise intensity is individually prescribed based on maximal heart rate and maximal aerobic speed.	Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training; Treadmill-based high-intensity interval running consisting of repeated short bouts performed at high intensity, with exercise intensity individually prescribed using maximal heart rate and maximal aerobic speed.
Experimental: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT); Participants complete a continuous treadmill running session performed at a moderate intensity. Exercise intensity is individually prescribed based on maximal heart rate and maximal aerobic speed.	Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training; Treadmill-based continuous aerobic running performed at moderate intensity, with exercise intensity individually prescribed using maximal heart rate and maximal aerobic speed.
Experimental: Low-Intensity Steady-State Exercise (LSD); Participants complete a continuous low-intensity treadmill running session. Exercise intensity is individually prescribed based on maximal heart rate and maximal aerobic speed.	Behavioral: Low-Intensity Steady-State Exercise; Treadmill-based continuous low-intensity aerobic exercise, with exercise intensity individually prescribed using maximal heart rate and maximal aerobic speed.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in countermovement jump height measured by force platform (cm)	Countermovement jump (CMJ) height assessed using a force platform system. Jump height (cm) will be calculated from flight time. The primary variable will be the change from pre-exercise baseline to 15 minutes after completion of each aerobic exercise condition (HIIT, MICT, and LSD).	Immediately before and 15 minutes after completion of each intervention session
Change in isometric mid-thigh pull peak force measured by force plate (N)	Peak force during the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) test measured using a force plate. Force values will be recorded in Newtons (N). The primary outcome will be calculated as the change from pre-exercise baseline to 15 minutes after completion of each aerobic exercise condition.	Immediately before and 15 minutes after completion of each intervention session
Change in squat jump height measured by force platform (cm)	Squat jump (SJ) height assessed using a force platform. Jump height will be expressed in centimeters (cm). The outcome variable will be the change from pre-exercise baseline to 15 minutes after completion of each aerobic exercise condition.	Immediately before and 15 minutes after completion of each intervention session
Change in drop jump height measured by force platform (cm)	Drop jump (DJ) height assessed using a force platform following a standardized drop protocol. Jump height (cm) will be analyzed as the change from pre-exercise baseline to 15 minutes after completion of each aerobic exercise condition.	Immediately before and 15 minutes after completion of each intervention session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rating of perceived exertion assessed by Borg CR10 scale (score)	Perceived exertion evaluated using the Borg CR10 scale. Scores will be recorded immediately before and immediately after each aerobic exercise condition.	Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
Muscle discomfort assessed by Borg CR10 scale (score)	Muscle discomfort evaluated using the Borg CR10 scale. Scores will be recorded immediately before and immediately after each aerobic exercise condition.	Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chaoran Han
• Collaborators: Macao Polytechnic University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 18, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 18, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): August 18, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 9, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 14, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 14, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Aerobic exercise; Exercise intensity; Randomized crossover trial; Gymnastics; Youth athletes; Muscle strength and Power
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; High-Intensity Interval Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: 102772024RT013

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared publicly. The study involves minor participants and the informed consent and ethics approval did not include provisions for public data sharing. Aggregated data may be made available upon reasonable request from qualified researchers, subject to approval by the study investigators and the ethics committee.

Drug and device information, study documents

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