Acute Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Responses to High-Intensity Interval Training Protocols Using 60 s of Work and 60 s Recovery

Rozenek, R, Salassi III, JW, Pinto, NM, and Fleming, JD. Acute cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to high-intensity interval training protocols using 60 s of work and 60 s recovery. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3014-3023, 2016-Low-volume, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) consisting of 60 s work and 60 s recovery (60 s/60 s) repeated for 10 times has previously been found to produce beneficial cardiopulmonary, cellular, and metabolic adaptations in healthy and at-risk populations. There is currently relatively little information pertaining to the acute changes that take place during individual training sessions. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute physiological responses to 60 s/60 s × 10 HIIT protocols using several combinations of work and recovery intensities. Eleven healthy adults (mean age ± SD = 26.0 ± 5.3 years) performed 4 HIIT trials on separate days at varying percentages of peak power output that consisted of the following work/recovery intensities: (a) 80% PPO/0% PPO (80/0); (b) 80% PPO/50% PPO (80/50); (c) 100% PPO/0% PPO (100/0); and (d) 100% PPO/50% PPO (100/50). Compared with the other protocols, 100/50 produced higher (p ≤ 0.05) peak, average, and nadir %V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak. Other than the nadir values resulting from the 80/0 trial, all trials produced average, peak, and nadir %V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak and %HRpeak values that were within exercise intensity ranges (≈45-90% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max; ≈65-90% HRmax) recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine for improvement of cardiopulmonary function. Similar average HR and peak HR, RPE, blood lactate, and %V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak values were produced by 80/50 and 100/0 protocols. However, the average %V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak was significantly higher (∼9.3% absolute) in 80/50. It appeared that use of the 80/0, 80/50, and 100/0 protocols would be appropriate for individuals who are at the low to moderate end of the cardiopulmonary fitness spectrum.