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Acute effects of very low-volume high-intensity interval training on muscular fatigue and serum testosterone level vary according to age and training status

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Abstract

Purpose

To compare the acute physiological responses of three different very low-volume cycling sessions (6 × 5 s, 3 × 30 s, and 3 × 60 s) and their dependence on age and training status.

Methods

Subjects were untrained young men (mean ± SD; age 22.3 ± 4.6 years, VO2peak 42.4 ± 5.5 ml/kg/min, n = 10), older untrained men (69.9 ± 6.3 years, 26.5 ± 7.6 ml/kg/min, n = 11), and endurance-trained cyclists (26.4 ± 9.4 years, 55.4 ± 6.6 ml/kg/min, n = 10). Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and electrically stimulated knee extension torque, and low-frequency fatigue, as ratio of stimulation torques at 20–100 Hz (P20/100), were measured only 24 h after exercise. Serum testosterone (Te) and blood lactate concentrations were measured only 1 h after exercise.

Results

All protocols increased the blood lactate concentration and decreased MVC and P20/100 in young men, but especially young untrained men. In old untrained men, 6 × 5 s decreased P20/100 but not MVC. Te increased after 3 × 30 s and 3 × 60 s in young untrained men and after 3 × 60 s in older untrained men. The increase in Te correlated with responses of blood lactate concentration, MVC, and P20/100 only in old untrained men.

Conclusions

As little as 6 × 5 s all-out cycling induced fatigue in young and old untrained and endurance-trained cyclists. Slightly higher-volume sessions with longer intervals, however, suppressed contractile function more markedly and also transiently increased serum testosterone concentration in untrained men.

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Abbreviations

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HR:

Heart rate

LFF:

Low-frequency fatigue

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

SD:

Standard deviation

SIT:

Sprint interval training

Te:

Serum testosterone concentration

VO2peak:

Peak oxygen uptake

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Research Council of Lithuania [Grant no. SEN-08/2016].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania

    T. Venckunas, R. Krusnauskas, A. Snieckus, N. Eimantas, N. Baranauskiene, A. Skurvydas, M. Brazaitis & S. Kamandulis

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  1. T. Venckunas
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  2. R. Krusnauskas
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  3. A. Snieckus
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  4. N. Eimantas
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  7. M. Brazaitis
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  8. S. Kamandulis
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Contributions

Venckunas T, Krusnauskas R, Snieckus A, Eimantas N, Baranauskiene N, Skurvydas A, Brazaitis M, Kamandulis S. TV, RK, AS, NE, NB, AS, MB, and SK designed the study; RK, AS, NE, NB and MB conducted the study; TV, RK, AS, NE, NB, AS, MB, and SK analysed the data; TV, RK, AS, AS and SK wrote the paper. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to R. Krusnauskas.

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Communicated by Philip D. Chilibeck.

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Venckunas, T., Krusnauskas, R., Snieckus, A. et al. Acute effects of very low-volume high-intensity interval training on muscular fatigue and serum testosterone level vary according to age and training status. Eur J Appl Physiol 119, 1725–1733 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04162-1

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