# The high-intensity interval training introduced in physical education lessons decrease systole in high blood pressure adolescents

PMID: 35132123
Journal: Scientific Reports
Published: 2022-02-07
Authors: Popowczak M, Rokita A, Koźlenia D, Domaradzki J

## Question

Does a 10-week Tabata-style HIIT program added to physical education lessons reduce resting blood pressure in normotensive and high-blood-pressure adolescents?

## Summary

In Polish secondary-school students, adding a 14-minute Tabata-style HIIT block to one physical education lesson per week for 10 weeks reduced systolic blood pressure, especially among adolescents with high blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure did not show a comparable intervention effect, and no adverse effects were noted.

## Population

- Adolescent secondary-school students, categorized by sex and normal versus high blood pressure.
- Sample size: 141
- Age: Boys 16.24 ± 0.33 years; girls 16.12 ± 0.42 years.
- Sex: 52 boys and 89 girls.
- Fitness level: School PE students; additional sports participation in the last 6 months was excluded.
- Health status: Normotensive or prehypertensive/hypertensive; medical contraindications excluded.

## Methodology

- Cluster-randomized school-based controlled intervention with pre/post blood pressure assessment.
- 10 weeks
- Secondary school physical education lessons in Wroclaw, Poland.
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- PE Tabata HIIT.
- Modality: Bodyweight exercises in PE: push-ups, high knees, dynamic lunges, spider crawling, plank-to-push-ups, and side squeeze.
- Work intervals: 20 seconds.
- Recovery: 10 seconds active rest.
- Sets or repetitions: Three 4-minute Tabata sessions; each session had 8 cycles of two exercises, with 1-minute breaks between sessions.
- Intensity: Target 75-80% HRmax (145-157 bpm); first lesson EG HR 155.8 ± 18.2 bpm.
- Session duration: 10-minute warm-up, 14-minute HIIT, then several minutes flexibility/relaxation within one 45-minute PE lesson.
- Frequency: 1 session per week.
- Program length: 10 weeks.
- Progression: Same video-paced protocol used to maintain movement pace after initial HR verification.
- Standard PE.
- Modality: School physical education curriculum.
- Session duration: 45-minute PE lessons.
- Frequency: Three PE lessons per week.
- Program length: 10 weeks.
- Progression: Usual school PE program.

## Outcomes

### Systolic BP
Status: improved
HIIT significantly reduced systolic blood pressure, especially in adolescents with high blood pressure.

Experimental high BP group reduced SBP by average 12.77 mmHg versus other groups, p < 0.0001; group effect p < 0.00001; group × BP status p = 0.0014.

### Normotensive systolic BP
Status: improved
Normotensive HIIT participants had a small but significantly greater SBP reduction than normotensive controls.

Average decrease 1.81 mmHg; p = 0.0089.

### Diastolic BP
Status: mixed
Blood pressure status affected DBP change, but the HIIT intervention effect was not significant for DBP.

Group effect on DBP p = 0.1140; group × BP status p = 0.7261; BP status p = 0.0004.

### Safety
Status: no clear change
No adverse effect was noted due to the HIIT intervention.

## Practical Insights

- A short once-weekly bodyweight Tabata block can fit inside a standard PE lesson and may improve systolic BP in adolescents.
- Effects were strongest among adolescents with elevated baseline BP.
- School-based youth HIIT requires screening, teacher supervision, and attention to attendance.

## Limitations

- One secondary school only.
- Prehypertensive and hypertensive participants were combined due to small subgroup sizes.
- No nutrition control.
- No average daily physical activity monitoring.
- No continuous HR monitoring in later lessons.
- Absence-based exclusions during intervention.

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse effect was noted due to HIIT intervention.
- Students with medical contraindications were excluded.
- Nineteen subjects were excluded during the intervention because of absence in PE lessons.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35132123/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06017-w) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8821617/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.