Abstract
Purpose
This study compared the magnitude of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) between kettlebell complexes (KC) and high-intensity functional training (HIFT) and identified predictors of the EPOC response.
Methods
Active men (n = 11) and women (n = 10) (age 25 ± 6 yr) initially completed testing of resting energy expenditure and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), followed by lower and upper-body muscle endurance testing. On two subsequent days separated by ≥ 48 h, participants completed KC requiring 6 sets of kettlebell exercises (pushups, deadlifts, goblet squats, rows, and swings) with 60 s recovery between sets, and HIFT requiring 6 sets of bodyweight exercises (mountain climbers, jump squats, pushups, and air squats) with 60 s recovery. During exercise, gas exchange data and blood lactate concentration (BLa) were acquired and post-exercise, EPOC was assessed for 60 min.
Results
Results showed no difference in EPOC (10.7 ± 4.5 vs. 11.6 ± 2.7 L, p = 0.37), and VO2 and ventilation (VE) were significantly elevated for 30 and 60 min post-exercise in response to KC and HIFT. For KC and HIFT, HRmean and post-exercise BLa (R2 = 0.37) and post-exercise BLa and VE (R2 = 0.52) explained the greatest shared variance of EPOC.
Conclusion
KC and HIFT elicit similar EPOC and elevation in VO2 which is sustained for 30–60 min post-exercise, leading to 55 extra calories expended. Results show no association between aerobic fitness and EPOC, although significant associations were revealed for mean HR as well as post-exercise VE and BLa.
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Data availability
All data relevant to this study are included in the manuscript.
Abbreviations
- BLa:
-
Blood lactate concentration
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- EE:
-
Energy expenditure
- EPOC:
-
Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption
- HIFT:
-
High intensity functional training
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- KC:
-
Kettlebell complex exercise
- LBM:
-
Lean body mass
- PPO:
-
Peak power output
- RE:
-
Resistance exercise
- RER:
-
Respiratory exchange ratio
- BMR:
-
Basal metabolic rate
- V̇E :
-
Ventilation
- V̇O2 :
-
Oxygen consumption
- V̇O2max:
-
Maximal oxygen uptake
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the participants for their dedication to complete this study. This project was partially funded by a Research and Scholarly Activity grant.
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BS and TA had the following roles in creation of the study: BS and TA conceived the study idea, conducted pilot testing, recruited participants, collected data, and analyzed data. BS and TA wrote the initial and final versions of this manuscript. BS and TA approved the final version of this manuscript.
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Sturdy, R.E., Astorino, T.A. Post-exercise metabolic response to kettlebell complexes vs. high intensity functional training. Eur J Appl Physiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05579-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05579-z