Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to explore if training regimes utilizing diverse training intensity distributions result in different responses on neuromuscular status, anaerobic capacity/power and acute heart rate recovery (HRR) in well-trained endurance athletes.Methods: Thirty-six male (n = 33) and female (n = 3) runners, cyclists, triathletes and cross-country skiers [peak oxygen uptake: (VO2peak): 61.9 ± 8.0 mL·kg−1·min−1] were randomly assigned to one of three groups (blocked high intensity interval training HIIT; polarized training POL; high volume low intensity oriented control group CG/HVLIT applying no HIIT). A maximal anaerobic running/cycling test (MART/MACT) was performed prior to and following a 9-week training period.Results: Only the HIIT group achieved improvements in peak power/velocity (+6.4%, P < 0.001) and peak lactate (P = 0.001) during the MART/MACT, while, unexpectedly, in none of the groups the performance at the established lactate concentrations (4, 6, 10 mmol·L−1) was changed (P > 0.05). Acute HRR was improved in HIIT (11.2%, P = 0.002) and POL (7.9%, P = 0.023) with no change in the HVLIT oriented control group.Conclusion: Only a training regime that includes a significant amount of HIIT improves the neuromuscular status, anaerobic power and the acute HRR in well-trained endurance athletes. A training regime that followed more a low and moderate intensity oriented model (CG/HVLIT) had no effect on any performance or HRR outcomes.
Highlights
Endurance athletes use different training strategies to improve their performance
The major findings of the study were that (i) only the high-intensity (interval) training (HIIT) group improved their peak velocity or power output in the MART/MACT, (ii) HR recovery (HRR) was faster in the HIIT and POL groups compared with no change in the control group (CG)/high volume low-intensity training (HVLIT) group, (iii) while no training intervention improved the velocity or power output at the established lactate concentrations during the MART/MACT
Our results indicate that the athletes exposed to HIIT seemed to handle the anaerobic stress better than the HVLIT dominated groups indicated by their superior HRR
Summary
Endurance athletes use different training strategies to improve their performance. the bulk of training sessions typically are made up of longer and at slower paced session’s (Tonnessen et al, 2014), intervals and higher exercise intensity sessions are a necessity for high performance. It was concluded that well-trained athletes, who responded well to this type of training, demonstrated a faster HRR after the interval session and after a 40-km time trial (HR drop during the 60 s post-exercise) that further was related to an enhanced endurance performance. HRR relating to both the drop and the time to reach a certain beat per minute, responds differently to various forms of interval training regimes (Buchheit et al, 2008). This indicates that HRR could provide beneficial feedback for cardiovascular adjustments, during exercise, and in between exercise bouts
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