# Peak Power Output Is Similarly Recovered After Three- and Five-Days' Rest Following Sprint Interval Training in Young and Older Adults

PMID: 31027172
Journal: Sports
Published: 2019-04-25
Authors: Yasar Z, Dewhurst S, Hayes LD

## Question

Do young and older adults recover peak power output similarly after 3 versus 5 days of rest following a cycling sprint interval training session?

## Summary

This small crossover study tested whether young and older recreationally active adults recovered cycling peak power after 3 or 5 days of rest following one sprint interval training session. Peak power was not meaningfully reduced after either rest period in either age group, suggesting 3 days was enough for this acute performance marker in active older adults. The study was acute, small, cycling-specific, and not designed to test health adaptations.

## Population

- Recreationally active young and older adults.
- Sample size: 18
- Age: Young 24 +/- 3 years; older 70 +/- 8 years.
- Sex: 12 men and 6 women total.
- Fitness level: Habitually active.
- Health status: Screened apparently healthy adults.

## Methodology

- Randomized crossover acute recovery study.
- Two acute SIT visits with 3-day and 5-day rest conditions separated by 7-10 days.
- Laboratory cycling ergometer.
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Cycling SIT.
- Modality: Wattbike cycling.
- Work intervals: 20 s all-out sprint.
- Recovery: 3 min active recovery.
- Sets or repetitions: 3 sprints.
- Intensity: Maximal all-out effort.
- Session duration: Acute session with 6-min warm-up, 5-min passive recovery, SIT, and 5-min cool-down.
- Program length: Single session per rest condition.
- Progression: No progression.
- 3-day versus 5-day rest.
- Modality: Rest interval before PPO retest.
- Recovery: 3 days or 5 days.
- Program length: Crossover acute recovery.

## Outcomes

### Peak power output recovery
Status: no clear change
Peak power output was similarly recovered after 3 and 5 days in young and older adults.

Time effect p = .702; age-by-time p = .098.

### Age difference in PPO
Status: mixed
Older adults had lower absolute PPO than young adults, but recovery pattern was similar.

Age effect p = .002.

## Practical Insights

- For active older adults using cycling SIT, 3 days rest may be enough before another high-power session.
- Do not generalize this recovery result to sedentary users, running, or bodyweight jump HIIT.

## Limitations

- Small sample.
- Acute recovery only.
- Habitually active participants.
- Cycling-specific protocol.
- No detailed adverse-event reporting.

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse-event details were reported.
- Participants were screened with PAR-Q and ACSM procedures.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31027172/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7040094) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6524350/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.