Abstract
Introduction: Aerobic exercise generates increased cardiorespiratory fitness, which results in a protective factor for cardiovascular disease. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) might produce higher increases on cardiorespiratory fitness in comparison with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT); however, current evidence is not conclusive.Objective: To compare the effects of a low-volume HIIT and a MICT on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure during eight weeks in healthy men between 18 and 44 years of age.Materials and methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial. Forty-four volunteers were randomized to HIIT (n=22) or MICT (n=22). Both groups performed 24 sessions on a treadmill. The HIIT group completed 15 bouts of 30 seconds (90-95%, maximal heart rate, HRmax), while the MICT group completed 40 minutes of continuous exercise (65-75% HRmax). The study is registered as a clinical trial via clinicaltrials.gov with identifier number: NCT02288403.Results: Intra-group analysis showed an increase in VO2max of 3.5 ml/kg/min [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.02 to 4.93; p=0.0001] in HIIT and 1.9 ml/kg/min (95% CI -0.98 to 4.82; p=0.18) in MICT. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (1.01 ml/kg/min. 95% CI -2.16 to 4.18, p=0.52). MICT generated a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to HIIT (median 8 mm Hg; p<0.001). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for DBP.Conclusions: Results indicated no significant change in VO2max with a low-volume HIIT protocol versus MICT after 24 sessions. In contrast, MICT provided a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to HIIT
Highlights
Aerobic exercise generates increased cardiorespiratory fitness, which results in a protective factor for cardiovascular disease
Intra-group analysis showed an increase in VO2max of 3.5 ml/kg/min [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.02 to 4.93; p=0.0001] in High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and 1.9 ml/kg/min in moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)
Our main finding suggests that after adjusting for confounding variables, such as age, body mass index (BMI), weight, height, and baseline VO2max, the HIIT protocol was not superior to the MICT protocol in improving the VO2max of this group of apparently healthy young men who engaged in physical activity for less than
Summary
Aerobic exercise generates increased cardiorespiratory fitness, which results in a protective factor for cardiovascular disease. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) might produce higher increases on cardiorespiratory fitness in comparison with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT); current evidence is not conclusive. Forty-four volunteers were randomized to HIIT (n=22) or MICT (n=22). Both groups performed 24 sessions on a treadmill. Results: Intra-group analysis showed an increase in VO2max of 3.5 ml/kg/min [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.02 to 4.93; p=0.0001] in HIIT and 1.9 ml/kg/min (95% CI -0.98 to 4.82; p=0.18) in MICT. MICT generated a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to HIIT (median 8 mm Hg; p
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