PMID 32046311

Research
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High Intensity Interval Training Does Not Have Compensatory Effects on Physical Activity Levels in Older Adults

Bruseghini P, Tam E, Calabria E, Milanese C, Capelli C, Galvani C

Question

Whether 8 weeks of HIIT affected daily physical activity levels and total daily energy expenditure in healthy older men, compared with moderate-intensity continuous training.

Summary

In healthy active older men, 8 weeks of supervised cycling HIIT did not cause a compensatory reduction in daily physical activity or energy expenditure compared with moderate continuous training. Moderate and vigorous physical activity rose during the training period, sedentary time and sleep were largely unchanged, and no injuries, health disorders, dropouts, or missed sessions were reported.

Methodology

  • Twenty-four healthy older men aged 65-75 years recruited from local residents in Verona, Italy.
  • 24 participants.
  • Stationary cycling.
  • Work intervals: 2 min at 85%-95% individual VO2max.
  • Recovery: 2 min at 40% VO2max.
  • Intensity: 85%-95% VO2max work intervals.
  • 45-60 min total; 26 +/- 2 min aerobic training.
  • 3 days/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled exercise training study with pre/post fitness and anthropometric testing plus activity-monitor assessment before, during, and after training.
  • Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, Total energy expenditure, VO2max, and Sedentary time were tracked.

Outcomes

Compensatory physical activity behavior

HIIT did not reduce daily energy expenditure or increase sedentary time; sleep, sedentary time, and light physical activity remained constant during training.

No significant TEE change across T1, T2, and T3; sedentary and light activity remained unchanged.

No clear change

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity

MVPA increased during training and was not maintained two months after the end of training.

MVPA p = 0.0028 over time; EXP values 110 +/- 30, 134 +/- 45, and 94 +/- 23 min/day at T1, T2, T3.

Improved

Activity energy expenditure and physical activity level

AEE and PAL increased during training and decreased after training ended.

AEE p = 0.0033; PAL p = 0.0004 over time.

Improved

VO2max

Both groups improved absolute and relative VO2max after 8 weeks; no time-by-group interaction was found.

Absolute VO2max p < 0.0001; relative VO2max p < 0.0001.

Improved

Insights

  • For screened healthy older men, a supervised 7 x 2-min cycling HIIT protocol can be feasible without observed reductions in daily activity.
  • Older-adult HIIT programming should preserve screening, warm-up, rest-day spacing, and intensity monitoring assumptions from the study.
  • Claims that HIIT causes compensatory sedentary behavior should be qualified; this study did not observe that effect.

Limitations

  • Small sample size.
  • Male-only and healthy older adult sample.
  • Participants were active and medically screened, limiting applicability to beginners or clinical populations.
  • Supervised cycling protocol may not translate directly to unsupervised consumer workouts.
  • SenseWear Armband has reported underestimation of energy expenditure compared with doubly labelled water.

Safety

  • No injuries or health disorders occurred during the study period.
  • All subjects attended all exercise sessions.
  • Participants were medically screened and exercise sessions were supervised with heart-rate monitoring.