Interval Versus Continuous Training in Healthy Adults

Universidad de Antioquia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy Volunteers

Treatments: Behavioral: Aerobic interval training; Behavioral: Continuous training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02288403

HIIT-1-UdeA

Details and patient eligibility

About

Aerobic exercise produces increases in cardiorespiratory fitness (CF), which constitute a protective factor for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Therefore, aerobic exercise is a key strategy to promoting cardiovascular. There is some evidence that aerobic high intensity interval training may lead to greater increases in CF compared with continuous moderate-intensity training.

The main objective of this study is to examine the effects of an aerobic high intensity training program versus a continuous moderate intensity training program on CF in men 18 to 44 years.

Full description

Forty-four individuals will be randomly assigned to one of two aerobic training programs on a treadmill. Both groups will performed three times a week for eight-weeks (on alternate days). Half will run 40 minutes of continuous exercise at an intensity between 65-75% of maximum heart rate, and the remaining 22 will complete 21.5 minutes of interval exercise at an intensity between 90-95% of maximum heart rate, with recoveries between 50-55 % of maximum heart rate. After each session both groups will complete eight strength exercises mainly including large muscle groups for two sets and 8-12 repetitions at an intensity equivalent to 60-70% of one repetition maximum (controlled by perceived effort). Rest between sets will be kept between 60 and 90 seconds.

All participants will be evaluated at the start and completion of the intervention for their maximal oxygen consumption, blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI, body composition, and steps per week.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 44 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Perform aerobic exercise maximum 3 sessions per week

Exclusion criteria

• Currently participating in an aerobic high intensity training program
• Smoker
• History of cardiovascular disease
• History of coronary heart disease
• Arrhythmias
• Heart failure/insufficiency
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Under medical treatment with anticoagulants, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, bronchodilators, and/or steroids
• Psychological, neuromotor and/or osteo-muscular conditions that may affect participation in an exercise program.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

Aerobic interval training

Experimental group

Description:

Interval exercise at an intensity between 90-95% of maximum heart rate (15x30 s), with recoveries at an equivalent speed to 50-55 % of maximal oxygen consumption at baseline (14x60 s). 24 training sessions, 3x weekly (on alternate days).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Aerobic interval training

Continuous training

Active Comparator group

Description:

40 minutes of continuous exercise at an intensity between 65-75% of maximum heart rate. 24 training sessions, 3x weekly (on alternate days).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Continuous training