PMID 24302993

Research
All papers

Continuous and high-intensity interval training: which promotes higher pleasure?

Oliveira BR, Slama FA, Deslandes AC, Furtado ES, Santos TM

Question

When average exercise intensity is similar, do treadmill continuous training and high-intensity interval training produce different acute psychological responses?

Summary

In this acute crossover treadmill study, 15 men completed one continuous session and one high-intensity interval session with similar average oxygen uptake. The HIT session produced worse in-session feelings, higher arousal and effort, and more fatigue afterward, even though post-session enjoyment was not different; eight participants could not finish the HIT session because of fatigue.

Methodology

  • Low cardiovascular-risk men from a university community
  • 15 participants.
  • Treadmill running.
  • Work intervals: 2 minutes.
  • Recovery: Recovery at 0% intensity; duration adjusted, average 57 seconds.
  • Intensity: 100% VO2peak during stimuli; average intensity 85% of RCP.
  • Average 19.2 minutes because many stopped early.
  • Single session.
  • Acute crossover visit.
  • Randomized counterbalanced acute crossover trial
  • Affective valence, Arousal, Enjoyment, and Completion were tracked.

Outcomes

Feeling

HIT produced lower feeling-scale responses than CT.

p<=0.01.

Safety concern

Arousal and effort

HIT produced higher arousal and perceived exertion.

Felt arousal p<=0.001; RPE higher during HIT.

Safety concern

Enjoyment

Post-session enjoyment did not significantly differ between HIT and CT.

PAES p=0.779.

No clear change

Completion

Eight of 15 participants could not complete HIT because of fatigue.

Descriptive completion result.

Safety concern

Insights

  • HIIT enjoyment and HIIT in-session pleasure are different outcomes.
  • Short-recovery, 100% VO2peak treadmill intervals may be a poor adherence choice for many users.
  • Workout apps should consider perceived pleasure during intervals, not only completion or post-workout enjoyment.

Limitations

  • Acute single-session study.
  • Small sample of men only.
  • No lactate monitoring.
  • Affect during HIT was measured after work stimuli rather than after recovery.
  • Laboratory treadmill setting.

Safety

  • Eight participants stopped the HIT session early because of fatigue.
  • No injury or formal adverse-event count was reported.
  • Participants were screened as low cardiovascular risk.