Effect of different work and recovery settings during high-intensity intermittent training on maximal oxygen uptake and session volume responses

Abstract

Summary Objectives The aim of the present study was to verify the training session volume and the time spent at or above 90% of maximal oxygen uptake (t90VO2max) under different work and recovery settings during high-intensity intermittent training. Equipment and methods After having the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and peak velocity (Vpeak) determined, eleven male runners (age: 25.45 ± 4.13 years; VO2max: 55.88 ± 1.43 ml.kg−1.min−1 and personal best in urban 5 km: 18 min: 30s ± 01 min: 25s) completed three short HIIT (30s/30s, 40s/40s e 40s/20s) at 110% of Vpeak until exhaustion. The time sustained in oxygen fractions above 90% of VO2max, total exercise time (TT), number of complete series performed (NS) and time of exercise (TE) were quantified and compared between the different sessions. Results The t90VO2max was not different between sessions (P > 0.05); in turn, the 30s/30s protocol was greater than both 40s/40s and 40s/20s at the volume variables (30s/30s, TT (s): 1463 ± 86.14, NS (n): 24.18 ± 1.48 and TE (s): 737.36 ± 41.9–40s/40s, TT (s): 1043 ± 69.39, NS (n): 12.91 ± 0.87 and TE (s): 526.45 ± 34.72–40s/20s, TT (s): 415.55 ± 30.08, NS (n): 6.72 ± 0.51 and TE (s): 281 ± 20.01). For the prescription of training sessions, the 30s/30s protocol being the most appropriate when there is the goal to increase the volume session. On the other hand, protocol 40s/20s may optimize training time when the purpose is to stimulate high oxygen fractions, as its results are like those of other protocols in t90VO2max with time reduced up to four times.