Abstract
Background
This study examined the effects of a single all-out bout of 30-s sprint-cycle performed daily for 5 consecutive days per week for 6 weeks, on aerobic fitness, muscle strength and metabolic-health markers in physically active young males and females.
Methods
Healthy, physically active 20–28 year olds, were randomly assigned to either experimental (EXP, N = 11) or non-training control (CON, N = 8) group. With supervision, the EXP group performed one bout of 30-s sprint-cycle daily, Mondays to Fridays over 6 weeks, while CON group continued with their usual lifestyle. The followings were measured at pre- and post-intervention: maximal aerobic power, peak torque of knee extensors and flexors at velocities 30° s−1 and 300° s−1, resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, body fat percentage, fasting lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, and fasting insulin levels.
Results
There were no significant improvements in the EXP group for all the measured variables (all P > 0.05); except for significant interaction effects in peak torque of knee extensors at 30° s−1 (P = 0.044) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P = 0.046). Post hoc test indicate that CON group showed decline in their low-density lipo-proteins levels (P = 0.024).
Conclusion
Six weeks of one all-out bout of 30-s sprint-cycle per day, for 5 consecutive days per week, was ineffective in improving cardiovascular fitness, maximal strength, and most health markers in physically active young adults. The present results when combined with the previous literature suggest that there is a possibility of a minimum threshold for a number of sprint-cycle bouts needed to be performed before any form of cardio-metabolic-health benefit is accrued.
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Data availability
Data for the above study is available upon reasonble request.
Abbreviations
- au:
-
Arbitrary unit
- BP:
-
Blood pressure
- CMT:
-
Continuous moderate-intensity training
- CON:
-
Control
- GLUT4:
-
Glucose transporter type 4
- EXP:
-
Experimental
- F :
-
Females
- HDL-C:
-
High-density lipid cholesterol
- HIIT:
-
High-intensity interval training
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- HRmax :
-
Maximum heart rate
- LDL-C:
-
Low-density lipid cholesterol
- M :
-
Males
- N :
-
Number of participants
- PAR-Q +:
-
Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
- rep:
-
Repetition(s)
- RPE:
-
Ratings of perceived exertion
- rpm:
-
Revolutions per minute
- SIT:
-
Sprint interval training
- TC:
-
Total cholesterol
- TE:
-
Technical error
- W:
-
Watt
- WAnT:
-
Wingate Anaerobic cycle Test
- VO2max:
-
Maximal oxygen uptake
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ARA conceived the study’s research question, aims and designed the study’s experimental protocols. PYW, SMMS, WJMC, MXCK, KMSC, HWDC, LJ, and SS contributed to recruitment of participants, access to facilities, and experiment equipping. PYW, SMMS, WJMC, MXCK, KMSC, and HWDC conducted the experiments and data collection. PYW, SMMS, WJMC, MXCK, KMSC, and HWDC helped to tabulate and collate the raw data. PYW and HWDC analyzed and interpreted the data. ARA prepared the initial draft of the manuscript. PYW, SMMS, WJMC, MXCK, KMSC, HWDC, LJ, and SS provided constructive feedback to the progress of the written manuscript. All authors read, reviewed, and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Wong, P.Y., Soh, S.M.M., Chu, WJ.M. et al. A single all-out bout of 30-s sprint-cycle performed on 5 consecutive days per week over 6 weeks does not enhance cardiovascular fitness, maximal strength, and clinical health markers in physically active young adults. Eur J Appl Physiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05411-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05411-0