Effect of Continuous or Intermittent Moderate Exercise Training on Aerobic Capacity and Autonomic Regulation in College Students

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of 8-week continuous or intermittent moderate exercise training on aerobic capacity and autonomic regulation in college students. The maximal oxygen uptake (VO(subscript 2max)) was defined as aerobic capacity. The heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) was defined as autonomic regulation. Forty healthy college students (20 males, 20 females) with age 20.91 ± 1.08 yr, height 167.85 ± 8.36 cm, and weight 62.51 ± 12.55 kg were recruited in this study. As an independent design, all participants were divided into male continuous, male intermittent, female continuous and female intermittent groups, and performed 8-week exercise training. The training program contains treadmill exercise for 30 minutes per day, three days a week. During the exercise training, the continuous group run for 30-min continuously, while intermittent group consisted of 3 × 10 min running sessions separated by at least 10 minutes. Before and after 8-week training period, all subjects were completed graded exercise test (GXT). VO(subscript 2max) and HRVT were determined during performance test. Improvement of VO(subscript 2max) and HRVT are not significantly different between continuous and intermittent training programs either in male or female subjects. Both continuous and intermitted training programs can improve aerobic capacity and autonomic regulation in healthy college students. We suggested that intermittent exercise is suitable for busy people to improve their healthy status.