PMID 34673536

Research
All papers

Smartphone-Assisted High-Intensity Interval Training in Inflammatory Rheumatic Disease Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial

Haglo H, Wang E, Berg OK, Hoff J, Helgerud J

Question

Is smartphone-assisted HIIT comparable with supervised HIIT for cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life, adherence, and safety in inflammatory rheumatic disease patients?

Summary

In screened patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease, app-guided 4 x 4 minute HIIT improved VO2max about as much as supervised HIIT over 10 weeks, with no severe cardiovascular adverse events reported.

Methodology

  • Adults with inflammatory rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus
  • 40 participants.
  • Walking or running on treadmill, gym, or uphill outdoor route using Myworkout GO.
  • Work intervals: 4 minutes.
  • Recovery: 3 minutes active recovery.
  • Intensity: RPE 16-17, about 85-95% HRmax; app estimated intensity from speed/incline.
  • 34 minutes.
  • 2 sessions per week.
  • 10 weeks.
  • Two-arm randomized controlled trial
  • VO2max, Oxygen pulse, Health-related quality of life, and Safety were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2max

Both app-guided and supervised HIIT improved VO2max similarly.

VO2max increased p<0.001; supervised +3.6 +/- 1.3 mL/kg/min and app-guided +3.7 +/- 1.5 mL/kg/min; no between-group difference.

Improved

Oxygen pulse

Oxygen pulse improved in both groups.

Time effect p<0.001; no meaningful between-group difference reported.

Improved

HRQoL

Several quality-of-life domains improved over time without clear between-group differences.

Bodily pain, vitality, and social functioning improved with p values from <0.001 to 0.04.

Improved

Safety

No severe cardiovascular adverse events were reported during testing or HIIT.

Safety events were described narratively; no severe cardiovascular events in either group.

No clear change

Insights

  • A 4 x 4 minute HIIT format can be delivered through a smartphone app in screened inflammatory rheumatic disease patients.
  • App delivery may reduce supervision requirements but needs intensity-estimation safeguards.
  • Exercise tolerance testing and medical screening were part of the safety context.

Limitations

  • Per-protocol analysis rather than full intention-to-treat.
  • Motivated volunteer sample.
  • App group intensity was not directly heart-rate monitored for all sessions.
  • Missing HRQoL data in some app-group participants.

Safety

  • No severe cardiovascular adverse events occurred during or after VO2max testing or HIIT. Some withdrawals were related to illness, high disease activity, plantar fasciitis, low-back disc herniation, or knee/ankle inflammation; some were considered possibly training related.