Effects of HIIT and MIIT Suspension Training Programs on Sleep Quality and Fatigue in Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Question
Do HIIT and moderate-intensity suspension-training programs improve sleep quality and fatigue in older adults?
Summary
In older adults, 12 weeks of supervised TRX suspension HIIT reduced fatigue and improved some sleep-quality domains compared with moderate-intensity suspension training and control. The PSQI total change in HIIT was statistically significant but below the reported minimal clinically important difference, while the fatigue improvement exceeded that threshold.
Methodology
- Older adults randomized to HIIT suspension training, MIIT suspension training, or control; post-intervention analyses included 73 participants.
- 82 participants.
- Suspension-training squat exercise using TRX straps.
- Work intervals: 4 minutes.
- Recovery: 3 minutes active recovery.
- Intensity: 90-95% HRmax during work intervals and about 70% HRmax during active recovery.
- 45 minutes including 10-minute warm-up, main interval set, and 5-minute cool-down/stretching.
- 2 sessions per week.
- 12 weeks.
- Randomized controlled clinical trial
- Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total and domains, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Attendance, completion, and adverse effects were tracked.
Outcomes
Main reported result
HIIT significantly improved PSQI total score within group, but the change was below the minimal clinically important difference.
Main reported result
HIIT improved subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbances.
Main reported result
A significant group-by-time interaction was observed for fatigue.
Main reported result
Only HIIT significantly reduced fatigue, with a pre-post difference of 1.03 that exceeded the minimal clinically important difference.
Main reported result
Post-intervention fatigue differed significantly between HIIT and MIIT and between HIIT and control.
Insights
- TRX suspension HIIT can be adapted as a low-impact, supported interval format for older adults under supervision.
- Fatigue may be a more clinically meaningful outcome than global PSQI total score in this protocol.
- Familiarization and heart-rate monitoring were important parts of the intervention.
Limitations
- Only short-term outcomes were measured.
- Sleep was assessed subjectively.
- The sample was mostly female.
- Generalization to unsupervised or higher-risk older adults is limited.
Safety
- No adverse effects were reported; 89.02% of participants who started the intervention completed at least 83.33% of sessions.