HEMODYNAMIC AND METABOLIC EFFECTS OF INTERMITTENT VS. CONTINUOUS AEROBIC TRAINING

Abstract

HEMODYNAMIC AND METABOLIC EFFECTS OF INTERMITTENT VS. CONTINUOUS AEROBIC TRAINING H. Mayer, D. DeRose, Z. Charles-Marcel, J. Jamison, S. Payne, S.O. Roberts, & V. Nethery LIFESTYLE CENTER OF AMERICA OF OKLAHOMA, EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA & CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON STATE Differential metabolic effects occur with intermittent IT vs. continuous CT aerobic training. We hypothesized that exercise relying on more anaerobic processes would be less likely to deplete fat stores, show less tendency to lose weight or reduce serum triglycerides. Method: 25 sedentary subjects 45 - 75 yrs. were randomly assigned to IT n = 8, CT n = 9 or control CO n = 8. Both IT and CT groups started at 20 minutes of exercise, 5/wk increasedby3min/wk for 10 wks at 40% basally measured ParvoMedics VO2max Reserve Heart Rate RHR and increasing 5%/wk till 85% VO2max RHR. The CT group exercised continuously at their target heart rate THR while the IT group alternated exercise 5bpmaboveTHR followed by active rest until5bpmbelowTHR. Heart rates were monitored and confirmed by Polar Vantage heart rate monitors. Results: The IT group demonstrated greater mean weight and body fat loss −5.4lbs. and - 1.57% p ! 0.05 compared to the CT group −1.72lbs. and - 0.06% and the CO group +3.49 and + 0.92%. Both the IT and the CT groups significantly improved mean VO2max +3.30 and + 3.05 ml/kg/min p! 0.05, respectively, compared to the CO group +0.22ml/kg/min. Furthermore, improvement in ventilatory threshold VT was inversely correlated with weight loss pooledIT&CTr = .55, ITaloner = .67. VT improvement was also inversely correlated with triglyceride lowering pooledIT&CTr = .42, ITaloner = .63. Additionally, the relationship between weight loss and triglyceride decrease were correlated in both the IT and CT groups r = .65 and .50, respectively. Conclusions: There was no statistical significance of change in VT between the groups. Weight loss and triglyceride lowering were most pronounced for the subjects using the intermittent IT training regimen. Funded by a grant Ardmore Institute of Health and Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation of Ardmore, Oklahoma