Abstract
Purpose
While ideal for developing aerobic capacity, traditional endurance training (ET) is extremely time-consuming and may lack the specificity to maintain indices of speed and power in team sport athletes. In contrast, low-volume short-duration sprint interval training (SIT) has been shown to improve \({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max to a similar extent as ET. However, to date, few studies have compared the effects of running-based SIT and ET, on aerobic capacity and indices of speed and power of trained team sport athletes.
Methods
Club level male Gaelic football players were randomly assigned to SIT (n = 13; 26.5 ± 4.87 years) or ET (n = 12; 25.4 ± 2.58 years) groups. Participants trained 3 days week−1 for 6 weeks. \({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max, RE, v\({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max, blood lactate concentrations, Wingate test performance, running speed, jump performance and intermittent endurance performance (IEP) were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks.
Results
An increase in \({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max (p < 0.05), v\({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max (p < 0.001) and IEP (p < 0.001) following 6 weeks of both SIT and ET was observed. Wingate mean power (p < 0.001), peak power (p < 0.001) and fatigue index (p < 0.005) were all significantly improved following training in both groups. Velocity at LT was significantly higher and performance in the 20-m running speed and VJ tests were significantly reduced post training in the ET group (all p < 0.005).
Conclusion
Despite the large difference in total training time, a running-based protocol of SIT is a time efficient training method for improving aerobic capacity and IEP while maintaining indices of lower body power and running speed in team-sport players.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study is available upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- CMJ:
-
Counter-movement jump
- COX:
-
Cytochrome c oxidase
- CPET:
-
Cardio-pulmonary exercise test
- ET:
-
Endurance training
- FI:
-
Fatigue index
- H+ :
-
Hydrogen ion
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- HRmax:
-
Maximal heart rate
- IEP:
-
Intermittent endurance performance
- LT:
-
Lactate threshold
- MCT:
-
Monocarboxylate transporter
- MP:
-
Mean power
- PAR-Q:
-
Physical activity readiness questionnaire
- PCr:
-
Phosphocreatine
- PP:
-
Peak power
- RE:
-
Running economy
- RPE:
-
Rate of perceived exertion
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- SIT:
-
Sprint interval training
- VEmax:
-
Maximal ventilation
- VJ:
-
Vertical jump
- \({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2 :
-
Oxygen uptake
- ̇\({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max:
-
Maximal aerobic capacity
- v\({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max:
-
Velocity at maximal oxygen uptake
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The authors would like to sincerely thank the final year project students as well as the committed participants that contributed to and participated in this study.
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DTK, CC and NMM conceived and designed research. DTK, CC, BC and POC conducted experiments. DTK and NMM analysed data. The first draft of the manuscript was written by DTK and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Kelly, D.T., Cregg, C.J., O’Connor, P.L. et al. Physiological and performance responses of sprint interval training and endurance training in Gaelic football players. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 2265–2275 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04699-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04699-0