Abstract
This study tested the effects of HIIT prescribed using ventilatory threshold (VT) on changes in VO2max and cycling performance. Fourteen active men and women (age and VO2max = 27 ± 8year and 38 ± 4mL/kg/min) underwent nine sessions of HIIT, and 14 additional men and women (age and VO2max = 22 ± 3year and 40 ± 5mL/kg/min) served as controls. Training was performed on a cycle ergometer at a work rate equal to 130%VT and consisted of eight to ten 1min bouts interspersed with 75s of recovery. At baseline and post-testing, they completed progressive cycling to exhaustion to determine VO2max, and on a separate day, a 5 mile cycling time trial. Compared to the control group, HIIT led to significant increases in VO2max (6%, p = 0.007), cycling performance (2.5%, p = 0.003), and absolute VT (9W, p = 0.005). However, only 57% of participants revealed meaningful increases in VO2max and cycling performance in response to training, and two showed no change in either outcome. A greater volume of HIIT may be needed to maximize the training response for all individuals.
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