Six Hit Treadmill Training Sessions Improves Lipid Oxidation and Ventilatory Thresholds Intensities

Abstract

The high-intensity interval training (HIT) has been used as alternative to cardiorespiratory training performed continuously with submaximal intensity and prolong time. PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to propose a treadmill HIT protocol and verify the influence of six HIT sessions on intensities of ventilatory anaerobic thresholds (VATs) and substrate oxidation rates during submaximal continuous exercise (SCE). METHODS: Fifteen irregularly active men performed incremental treadmill exercise testing followed by submaximal work-rate running for 45min to determine VATs, VO2peak, peak velocity (Vpeak), and substrate oxidation rates, before and after training period. The training period consisted of six HIT sessions, composed each one of eight sets of 60s running at 100%Vpeak interspersed by 75s recovery, every 48h. RESULTS: Our results showed increases in VATs intensities of 4.4% for VAT1 and 8.8% for VAT2, reduction of 12.8% for carbohydrate oxidation (CHOox) and increase of 23.7% for lipid oxidation (LIPox); as a result, the relative energy derived from LIPox was 20.3% higher after the training period. Vpeak was ~15 km/h, which produces the relative intensities of ~84%VO2peak e ~91%FCpeak during the training period. CONCLUSION: The proposed protocol promoted similar adaptations and intensities which were described by the literature; but unlike others, it can be applied in irregularly active individuals.