PMID 25395872

Research
All papers

Effects of 16-week high-intensity interval training using upper and lower body ergometers on aerobic fitness and morphological changes in healthy men: a preliminary study

Osawa Y, Azuma K, Tabata S, Katsukawa F, Ishida H, Oguma Y, Kawai T, Itoh H, Okuda S, Matsumoto H

Question

Does adding arm-cranking HIIT to leg-cycling HIIT improve aerobic fitness and skeletal muscle morphology similarly or more broadly than leg-cycling HIIT alone?

Summary

This small preliminary randomized study compared 16 weeks of leg-cycling HIIT with combined leg-cycling plus arm-cranking HIIT in healthy men. Both groups improved leg cycling peak workload and quadriceps muscle size, while the combined arm/leg group also improved arm-cranking capacity and trunk muscle size. Two participants dropped out for work conflict and lower-back pain unrelated to a training session; one participant had migraine issues near the end. The study was underpowered and used ergometers, making it background evidence rather than a direct bodyweight app template.

Methodology

  • Healthy adult men.
  • 14 participants.
  • Leg cycling ergometer.
  • Work intervals: 60 s.
  • Recovery: 60 s active recovery at 30 W.
  • Intensity: >90% VO2peak workload; >60 rpm.
  • About 30-40 min including warm-up/cool-down.
  • 2 sessions/week.
  • 16 weeks.
  • Preliminary randomized two-group training study.
  • Leg cycling peak workload and VO2peak, Arm-cranking peak workload, Muscle cross-sectional area, and Lean mass and body fat were tracked.

Outcomes

Leg cycling peak workload

Peak workload increased from baseline in both groups.

LC +23% +/- 38%, p<0.05; LC-AC +11% +/- 9%, p<0.05.

Improved

Muscle CSA

Quadriceps CSA increased in both groups; psoas major and anterolateral abdominal CSA increased only in LC-AC.

Quadriceps LC +11% +/- 4%, LC-AC +5% +/- 5%, both p<0.05.

Improved

VO2peak and arm capacity

VO2peak increased only in LC; arm-cranking peak workload increased only in LC-AC.

AC peak W increased >10% in all LC-AC completers.

Mixed

Tolerability

RPE and lactate were high and similar between groups, but two participants dropped out and one had migraine issues near the end.

RPE LC 18 +/- 1; LC-AC 17 +/- 1; lactate 12 +/- 1 vs 11 +/- 1 mM.

Mixed

Insights

  • Upper/lower modality distribution can change local muscle adaptations.
  • 60:60 intervals with progressive workload are reproducible but equipment-heavy.
  • Small preliminary ergometer data should not be used as direct bodyweight programming evidence.

Limitations

  • Very small sample
  • Men only
  • Wide age range
  • Underpowered
  • Variable training volume based on physical condition
  • Equipment-specific protocol

Safety

  • Two participants dropped out: work conflict and aggravated lower-back pain not during a training session.
  • One LC participant had aggravating migraine attacks near the end and headache aura at post-test.
  • Sessions were supervised and volume was adjusted by condition.