Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adaptations to 4 weeks of high-intensity interval training in healthy adults with different training backgrounds

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the physical fitness and oxygen uptake kinetics (\(\tau \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)) along with the exercise-onset O2 delivery (heart rate kinetics, τHR; changes in normalized deoxyhemoglobin/\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) ratio, Δ[HHb]/\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)) adaptations of individuals with different physical activity (PA) backgrounds responding to 4 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and the possible effects of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) on training-induced adaptations.

Methods

Twenty subjects (10 high-PA level, HIIT-H; 10 moderate-PA level, HIIT-M) engaged in 4 weeks of treadmill HIIT. Ramp-incremental (RI) test and step-transitions to moderate-intensity exercise were performed. Cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, muscle oxygenation status, VO2 and HR kinetics were assessed at baseline and post-training.

Results

HIIT improved fitness status for HIIT-H (\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\), + 0.26 ± 0.07 L/min; SMM, + 0.66 ± 0.70 kg; body fat, − 1.52 ± 1.93 kg; \(\tau \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\), − 7.11 ± 1.05 s, p < 0.05) and HIIT-M (\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\), 0.24 ± 0.07 L/min, SMM, + 0.58 ± 0.61 kg; body fat, − 1.64 ± 1.37 kg; \(\tau \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\), − 5.48 ± 1.05 s, p < 0.05) except for visceral fat area (p = 0.293) without between-group differences (p > 0.05). Oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin amplitude during the RI test increased for both groups (p < 0.05) except for total hemoglobin (p = 0.179). The Δ[HHb]/\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) overshoot was attenuated for both groups (p < 0.05) but only eliminated in HIIT-H (1.05 ± 0.14 to 0.92 ± 0.11), and no change was observed in τHR (p = 0.144). Linear mixed-effect models presented positive effects of SMM on absolute \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\max }\) (p < 0.001) and ΔHHb (p = 0.034).

Conclusion

Four weeks of HIIT promoted positive adaptations in physical fitness and \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) kinetics, with the peripheral adaptations attributing to the observed improvements. The training effects are similar between groups suggesting that HIIT is effective for reaching higher physical fitness levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets that support this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BF%:

Body fat percentage

BFM:

Body fat mass

BMI:

Body mass index

CP:

Critical power

CRF:

Cardiorespiratory fitness

GET:

Gas-exchange threshold

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HR:

Heart rate

IPAQ-S:

International physical activity questionnaire short form

LME:

Linear mixed-effect models

MET:

Maximal metabolic equivalent

MPA:

Moderate- intensity physical activity

NIRS:

Near-infrared spectroscopy

O2 :

Oxygen

PA:

Physical activity

PARq:

Physical activity readiness questionnaire

PPO:

Peak power output

\(\dot{Q}\) :

Cardiac output

RER:

Respiratory exchange ratio

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

RT:

Resistance training

SD:

Standard deviation

SMM:

Skeletal muscle mass

SmO2%:

Muscle O2 saturation

TTE:

Time to exhaustion

\({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}\) :

Oxygen uptake

\({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{{\text{2max}}}}\) :

Maximal oxygen uptake

VFA:

Visceral fat sera

VPA:

Vigorous-intensity physical activity

W:

Watts

W' :

A finite amount of energy available for work performed above CP

Δ[HHb]/\({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}\) :

Deoxygenated hemoglobin over oxygen uptake ratio

[HHb]:

Deoxygenated hemoglobin

[O2Hb]:

Oxygenated hemoglobin

[tHb]:

Total hemoglobin

References

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express our gratitude to the participants in this study. We would also extend our gratitude to the technical guidance provided by Miss. Xi Zhang and to the experimental design assistance provided by Mr. Chao Lan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Yujie Liu, Yuncan Xia, Tian Yue, Fengya Li, Aiyi Zhou, Xiaoxiao Zhou, Yibing Yao, Yihong Zhang & Yan Wang

Authors
  1. Yujie Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuncan Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tian Yue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fengya Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Aiyi Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiaoxiao Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yibing Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Yihong Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Yan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

YJL and YW conceived and designed the research; YJL, YCX and FYL performed experiments; XXZ, AYZ and TY analyzed data; YJL, YCX and XXZ interpreted results of experiments; XXZ, YBY and YHZ prepared figures and tables; YJL, FYL and TY drafted manuscript; YJL, YCX and YW edited and revised manuscript; All authors approved final version of manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan Wang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest relevant to this article.

Additional information

Communicated by Guido Ferretti.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, Y., Xia, Y., Yue, T. et al. Adaptations to 4 weeks of high-intensity interval training in healthy adults with different training backgrounds. Eur J Appl Physiol 123, 1283–1297 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05152-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05152-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation