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June 24, 2026Microvascular Research

The effect of acute high-intensity interval exercise on microvascular function and local skeletal muscle oxygenation

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Why the study?

Does acute high-intensity interval exercise affect microvascular function and local skeletal muscle oxygenation?

Population

22 enrolled participants (19 reported with complete oxygenation data), mean age 27 ± 6 years, 42% female.

Comparison

Acute high-intensity interval exercise… vs Pre-exercise baseline (within-subject comparison).

Design

Other

Follow-up

2 hours post-exercise

Key result

High-intensity interval exercise progressively increased deoxygenation magnitude (-49% vs -41% at interval 11 vs 1, p=0.033) and lowered sustained microvascular vasodilation post-exercise.

Authors

NNNino NikolovskiASAdam N. Di SalvoSEStephanie Estafanos

Discussion

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Overview

Acute HIIE may transiently impair microvascular function; hypothesis-generating observation leaves open clinical or training implications.

Key Points

  • This research aims to explore the relationship between microvascular function and local skeletal muscle oxygenation during high-intensity interval exercise.
  • Nineteen participants assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy at the vastus lateralis during high-intensity interval exercise.
  • Microvascular function evaluated through vascular occlusion-reperfusion pre- and post-exercise.
  • Exercise involved twelve 1-min intervals at 85% peak power output.
  • Deoxygenation magnitude increased by -49±13% at interval 11 vs. -41±19% at interval 1 (p=0.033).
  • 2-min hypersaturation area under the curve (AUC) was lower post-exercise compared to pre-exercise (both p≤0.025).
  • AUC (ρ=0.659, p=0.003) correlated with peak cardiorespiratory fitness but not with reoxygenation outcomes (all p≥0.113).

Structured PICO

Does acute high-intensity interval exercise affect microvascular function and local skeletal muscle oxygenation?

P
Population
22 enrolled participants (19 reported with complete oxygenation data), mean age 27 ± 6 years, 42% female.
I
Intervention
Acute high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) consisting of twelve 1-min intervals at 85% of peak power output.
C
Comparator
Pre-exercise baseline (within-subject comparison).
O
Outcome
Microvascular function (assessed via near-infrared spectroscopy at the vastus lateralis pre- and post-HIIE) and local skeletal muscle oxygenation throughout HIIE.surrogate

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: -49% vs -41%

p-value: p=0.033

Acute high-intensity interval exercise alters the local oxygenation environment and may acutely lower sustained microvascular vasodilation post-exercise.

Cite This Study

Nikolovski et al. (2026) studied this question. High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) vs. pre-exercise baseline was evaluated on deoxygenation magnitude at interval 11 compared to interval 1 (p=0.033). High-intensity interval exercise progressively increased deoxygenation magnitude (-49% vs -41% at interval 11 vs 1, p=0.033) and lowered sustained microvascular vasodilation post-exercise.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a3c234ad15afadd906f9efehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2026.104980
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