Abstract
Sprint interval training (SIT) is characterized by intensity of “all-out” effort and superior time-efficiency compared to traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and has been proposed as one viable solution to address the commonly reported barrier of lack of time for physical activity. While substantial physiological benefits of participation in SIT have been well-documented, the psychological responses to SIT are less clear. No systematic review has been conducted thus far to respond to the assumption that its supramaximal intensity will induce adverse feelings. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to synthesize studies analyzing affective and enjoyment responses to SIT and to compare the responses to SIT with MICT and other high intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols with lower intensities. After searching relevant databases up until 22nd March 2021, twenty-five studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the present review. Random effect meta-analysis using the pooled data demonstrated that SIT induced similar post-exercise affective valences during the training compared to MICT and HIIT, but lower affective valences immediately post-exercise compared to MICT. Moreover, affective responses during SIT decreased to negative valences according to the results from most included studies, while low-volume SIT protocols with shorter sprint duration and repetitions induced more positive affective responses. Level of enjoyment after SIT were positive and were comparable to MICT or HIIT. Overall, the results from the existing literature indicate that SIT might cause unpleasant feelings during the training and be perceived less pleasurable than MICT immediately post training but could be a comparably enjoyable modality for healthy individuals in relation to MICT or HIIT, despite its supramaximal intensity. Low-volume SIT may be a realistic option for individuals seeking a time-efficient workout with comparable affective responses to MICT or HIIT.Systematic Review Registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO], Identifier [CRD42021284898].
Highlights
Regular participation in physical activity has been recommended as an essential means to achieve and maintain good health status
This type of training involves supramaximal intensity and has been feared to be too physically demanding for individuals and especially inactive ones who often have low tolerance to high intensity exercise and have been presumed to have low intrinsic motivation to participate in any physical activity
The current study aimed to synthesis the literature on the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) on psychological responses including two of the most reported variables—enjoyment and affect with respect to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and High-intensity interval training (HIIT) with near maximal intensity
Summary
Regular participation in physical activity has been recommended as an essential means to achieve and maintain good health status. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been promoted consistently in the literature, in part because of its time-efficiency, but mainly due to its comparable effects on improving health and fitness compared with traditional cardiovascular training (i.e., moderate intensity continuous exercise, MICT) (Biddle and Batterham, 2015; Milanovicet al., 2015; Batacan et al, 2017). Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have demonstrated the potential advantages of participating in SIT for improving physical health such as cardiorespiratory fitness (Gist et al, 2014; Vollaard et al, 2017; Wen et al, 2019), body composition (Keating et al, 2017) and metabolic adaptions (Kessler et al, 2012; Jelleyman et al, 2015) with much less time investment compared with MICT and HIIT
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