Aerobic Adaptations With Various Training Methods
Condition: Healthy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The goal of this intervention study is to compare the adaptations after a 6-week training
      period between an intense continuous and a high-intensity interval training program performed
      under iso-effort conditions on aerobic performance parameters in young healthy adults. The
      main question it aims to answer are if the intense continuous and a high-intensity interval
      training programs will induce similar adaptations in maximal (VO2max and PTV) and submaximal
      (critical velocity, lactate threshold parameters and running economy) aerobic performance
      parameters. Participants will be ere randomly assigned either to an intense continuous
      training group (CON) or to a high-intensity interval training group (INT). The training
      program will comprise of 14 training sessions performed over a 6-week period.
    

Detailed description: 
      The aim of this study was to compare the adaptations after a 6-week training period between
      the intense continuous and the high-intensity interval training methods performed under
      iso-effort conditions on maximal (VO2max and PTV) and submaximal (critical velocity, lactate
      threshold parameters and running economy) aerobic performance parameters.

      A parallel group research design was used in the present study. Initially, 26 participants
      (10 males and 16 females), using stratified randomization (gender was the variable of
      stratification) were randomly assigned (1:1), according to a random-number table, either to
      an intense continuous training group (CON) or to a high-intensity interval training group
      (INT).

      The INT group trained using the interval method. During the exercise sessions the
      participants ran each bout at an intensity corresponding to 90% of PTV. PTV was used to
      prescribe the exercise intensity at the INT group. The duration of the running-bouts was
      equal to ¼ of the individual time to exhaustion at 90% of PTV (determined during the CV
      testing) followed by passive rest equal to 2/3 of exercise duration. The duration of the
      exercise-bouts was individualized based on the time to exhaustion at 90% of PTV to reduce the
      between subject's variability. The participants terminated each exercise session when an RPE
      value of 17 was reached. Running bout duration and intensity were adjusted after 7 training
      sessions (during the 3rd week) following a reassessment of the time to exhaustion at 90% of
      the "new" PTV achieved during mid-testing as a result of training.

      The CONT group trained using the continuous method. During the training sessions the
      participants ran with an intensity corresponding to -2,5% of CV until they reported a rating
      of 17 at the 6-20 Borg's scale. Running velocity was adjusted after 7 training sessions
      (during the 3rd week) after reassessment of CV. CV was used to determine the exercise
      intensity in the CONT group to ensure that all individuals would ran at the heavy intensity
      domain and be able to complete at least 15 min of continuous running, and to minimize the
      high inter-individual variations in endurance time at intensities near the upper limit of the
      heavy intensity domain. Using PTV to determine the intensity in the CONT group, would
      increase the possibility for trainees to exercise at different exercise intensity domains.

      During the experiment, participants will not perform any other form of training besides of
      that applied in the current study. VO2max, PTV, oxygen consumptions, heart rates and the
      velocities corresponding to the 1st and the 2nd lactate thresholds (LT1 and LT2), the
      velocity at 4 mmol/L of blood lactate concentration (v4mmol), running economy, and critical
      velocity (CV) will be measured before, after 7 training sessions (3rd week, two days after
      the 7th training session), and after the completion of training program.
    

Intervention name(s): Interval training; Continuous training
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): The interval training group trained using the interval method. During the exercise sessions the participants ran each bout at an intensity corresponding to 90% of PTV. PTV was used to prescribe the exercise intensity at the INT group. The duration of the running-bouts was equal to ¼ of the individual time to exhaustion at 90% of PTV (determined during the CV testing) followed by passive rest equal to 2/3 of exercise duration. The duration of the exercise-bouts was individualized based on the time to exhaustion at 90% of PTV to reduce the between subject's variability. The participants terminated each exercise session when an RPE value of 17 was reached. Running bout duration and intensity were adjusted after 7 training sessions (during the 3rd week) following a reassessment of the time to exhaustion at 90% of the "new" PTV achieved during mid-testing as a result of training.; The continuous group trained using the continuous method. During the training sessions the participants ran with an intensity corresponding to -2,5% of CV until they reported a rating of 17 at the 6-20 Borg's scale. Running velocity was adjusted after 7 training sessions (during the 3rd week) after reassessment of CV. CV was used to determine the exercise intensity in the CONT group to ensure that all individuals would ran at the heavy intensity domain and be able to complete at least 15 min of continuous running, and to minimize the high inter-individual variations in endurance time at intensities near the upper limit of the heavy intensity domain. Using PTV to determine the intensity in the CONT group, would increase the possibility for trainees to exercise at different exercise intensity domains.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: A parallel group research design was used in the present study. Initially, 26 participants (10 males and 16 females), using stratified randomization (gender was the variable of stratification) were randomly assigned (1:1), according to a random-number table, either to an intense continuous training group (CON) or to a high-intensity interval training group (INT).
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Other
Keywords: exercise; maximal oxygen consumption; endurance