PMID 25679998

Research
All papers

High-Intensity Interval Training with Vibration as Rest Intervals Attenuates Fiber Atrophy and Prevents Decreases in Anaerobic Performance

Mueller SM, Aguayo D, Zuercher M, Fleischmann O, Boutellier U, Auer M, Jung HH, Toigo M

Question

Does adding whole-body vibration during HIIT recovery intervals preserve anaerobic performance and muscle fiber size while maintaining aerobic gains?

Summary

In recreationally active men, 8 weeks of cycling HIIT improved aerobic fitness whether recovery periods used easy cycling or whole-body vibration. Conventional active-recovery HIIT reduced some anaerobic and muscle fiber outcomes, while replacing recovery with vibration prevented those decreases.

Methodology

  • Healthy recreationally active men
  • 33 participants.
  • Cycle ergometer with vibration recovery.
  • Work intervals: 4 min at 75% Ppeak.
  • Recovery: 3 min standing half-squat vibration plus transitions.
  • Intensity: 75% Ppeak; vibration 18 or 30 Hz.
  • About 35 min.
  • 2 to 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Four-arm randomized matched training intervention
  • Anaerobic work capacity, VO2peak, and Muscle fiber size were tracked.

Outcomes

Aerobic fitness

All HIT-containing groups improved CP, Ppeak, VO2peak, cardiac output, stroke volume, and capillary-to-fiber ratio.

VO2peak increased about 4.5% to 6.0% across HIT-containing groups.

Improved

Anaerobic performance

Conventional HIT decreased W prime and power/strength outcomes, while vibration recovery prevented those decreases.

HIT W prime -14.3%, p=0.013; MVT -8.6%, p=0.001; CMJ Pmax -6.3%, p=0.007.

Mixed

Fiber size

Conventional HIT reduced MyHC-2A fiber area, while HIT with vibration did not.

HIT MyHC-2A CSA -6.4%, p=0.044.

Mixed

Insights

  • Recovery modality may affect muscular adaptations.
  • Conventional active recovery is not a neutral design choice.
  • Specialized vibration findings should not be generalized to app recovery without testing.

Limitations

  • Small groups
  • Male-only participants
  • No participant/supervisor blinding
  • Specialized equipment
  • Cycling-only protocol

Safety

  • Three withdrawals were for personal reasons unrelated to the trial.
  • No explicit adverse-event results were reported.