PMID 32157250

Research
All papers

High-intensity interval training produces a significant improvement in fitness in less than 31 days before surgery for urological cancer: a randomised control trial

Blackwell JEM, Doleman B, Boereboom CL, Morton A, Williams S, Atherton P, Smith K, Williams JP, Phillips BE, Lund JN

Question

Can a short preoperative HIIT program improve cardiorespiratory fitness within the cancer surgery waiting-time window in patients scheduled for urological cancer surgery?

Summary

Older patients awaiting major urological cancer surgery completed up to 12 supervised low-volume cycle HIIT sessions in less than 31 days. Compared with standard care, HIIT improved anaerobic threshold, peak oxygen uptake, exercise wattage, blood pressure, and some muscle architecture measures, with no reportable adverse safety events during HIIT.

Methodology

  • 40 older patients scheduled for major urological cancer surgery; 34 completed protocol.
  • 40 participants.
  • Cycle ergometer.
  • Work intervals: 1 min.
  • Recovery: Unloaded recovery; exact between-work recovery not fully specified in the paper.
  • Intensity: 100-115% maximal CPET wattage; >85% predicted HRmax achieved.
  • About 9 min plus setup.
  • 3-4 sessions/week.
  • Less than 31 days.
  • Parallel randomized controlled trial
  • Anaerobic threshold, VO2peak, Blood pressure, and Muscle architecture were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2AT

HIIT significantly improved anaerobic threshold versus control.

Mean difference 2.26 ml/kg/min, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.26.

Improved

VO2peak

HIIT significantly improved peak oxygen uptake.

Mean difference 2.16 ml/kg/min, 95% CI 0.24 to 4.08.

Improved

Blood pressure

HIIT reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

SBP -8.2 mmHg, 95% CI -16.09 to -0.29; DBP -6.47 mmHg, 95% CI -12.56 to -0.38.

Improved

Safety

No reportable adverse safety events occurred during HIIT.

All participants achieved >85% predicted HRmax during sessions; protocol adherence 84%.

No clear change

Insights

  • Very low-volume supervised HIIT can produce rapid CRF gains when intensity is individualized.
  • Clinical HIIT evidence should be presented with supervision and screening context.
  • Travel and facility requirements can be barriers even when the workout itself is short.

Limitations

  • Predominantly white male prostate cancer sample.
  • Possible selection bias because participants had to be willing to randomize to HIIT.
  • Habitual activity and diet were not measured.
  • Laboratory, doctor-supervised protocol is resource intensive.
  • Not powered to analyze postoperative complications.

Safety

  • No reportable adverse safety events occurred during HIIT.
  • Two participants reported mild leg pain or cycle-seat discomfort, self-limiting and not requiring intervention.
  • Postoperative complications were recorded descriptively but the study was not powered for them.