PMID 31584766

Research
All papers

Effects of high-intensity interval training compared to moderate-intensity continuous training on maximal oxygen consumption and blood pressure in healthy men: A randomized controlled trial

Arboleda-Serna VH, Feito Y, Patiño-Villada FA, Vargas-Romero AV, Arango-Vélez EF

Question

Is low-volume HIIT superior to moderate-intensity continuous training for improving VO2max and blood pressure in healthy men aged 18-44 years?

Summary

In 44 healthy low-active men, 8 weeks of low-volume treadmill HIIT did not improve VO2max more than moderate continuous training. HIIT improved VO2max within the group, but moderate continuous training produced lower post-intervention systolic blood pressure and had fewer training-related adverse events.

Methodology

  • Healthy low-active men aged 18-44 years
  • 44 participants.
  • Treadmill.
  • Work intervals: 30 seconds.
  • Recovery: 60 seconds at speed equivalent to 50-55% VO2max.
  • Intensity: 90-95% HRmax, 10% treadmill grade.
  • About 30.5 minutes including warm-up/cool-down.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Two-arm randomized controlled trial
  • VO2max, Systolic blood pressure, Diastolic blood pressure, and Adverse events were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2max

HIIT improved VO2max within group but was not superior to MICT between groups.

Between-group p=0.54; HIIT within-group p=0.0001

Mixed

systolic blood pressure

Post-intervention systolic blood pressure was lower after MICT than HIIT.

Median difference 8 mmHg; p<0.001

Safety concern

diastolic blood pressure

No significant between-group difference was found for diastolic blood pressure.

p=0.15 intention-to-treat

No clear change

adverse events

Two HIIT musculoskeletal adverse events were associated with treadmill training.

Safety concern

Insights

  • Do not default to claiming HIIT beats moderate continuous training for VO2max.
  • Short HIIT can improve VO2max, but lower-limb musculoskeletal risk needs progression and alternatives.
  • For blood pressure goals in healthy low-active men, moderate continuous training may be at least as relevant.

Limitations

  • Men only
  • Baseline group imbalances
  • Resistance-training co-intervention
  • Incomplete control of outside activity
  • No long-term follow-up

Safety

  • HIIT: right pes anserine bursitis due to training led one participant to abandon after 15 sessions.
  • HIIT: tendinitis in the vastus medialis oblique insertion was associated with treadmill training and improved partly after reducing load and NSAIDs.
  • MICT had three events, with one gastrocnemius fatigue event associated with treadmill running.