PMID 36246128

Research
All papers

Effects of high-intensity interval training in combination with detraining on mental health in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Santos IK, Pichini GS, Daniel D Ferreira C, Dantas PB, Browne RAV, de Queiros V, Soares GM, Gonçalves AK, Cabral BG, Maranhão TMO, Dantas PMS

Question

What are the effects of 12 weeks of HIIT and 30 days of detraining on health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression, and stress in women with PCOS?

Summary

In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, 12 weeks of supervised track-based HIIT improved several quality-of-life and mental-health scores compared with advice-only control. After 30 days without training, quality-of-life benefits partly declined while anxiety and depression benefits were maintained in the HIIT group.

Methodology

  • 23 sedentary women with PCOS completed analysis.
  • 23 participants.
  • Track running/walking.
  • Work intervals: 1 min.
  • Recovery: 3 min active recovery for 10 weeks; 1 min in final 2 weeks.
  • Intensity: 95% HRmax work intervals; recovery around 70% HRmax.
  • About 50 min during main phase.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 12 weeks.
  • Pilot randomized controlled trial with detraining follow-up
  • Quality of life, Mental health, and Safety were tracked.

Outcomes

Quality of life

Physical functioning, physical role, and general health improved with HIIT.

Interactions: physical functioning p=0.021 ES 1.7; physical role p=0.027 ES 1.7; general health p=0.021 ES 3.1.

Improved

Anxiety

Anxiety improved after HIIT and remained improved after detraining.

Interaction p=0.025 ES 1.0; HIIT anxiety 6.4 +/- 1.6 to 3.7 +/- 0.7 to 3.5 +/- 0.6.

Improved

Depression

Depression improved after HIIT and remained improved after detraining.

Interaction p=0.031 ES 1.7; HIIT depression 6.7 +/- 1.6 to 3.8 +/- 0.9 to 3.8 +/- 0.7.

Improved

Stress

Stress did not show a significant intervention effect.

No significant interaction reported for stress.

No clear change

Insights

  • HR-guided 1-minute intervals may improve mental-health outcomes in screened women with PCOS.
  • Detraining data suggest continuity matters for maintaining quality-of-life gains.
  • Control engagement/adherence should be tracked when advice is used as comparator.

Limitations

  • Small pilot sample.
  • PCOS phenotypes varied.
  • Dietary control was lacking.
  • Psychiatric comorbidities were not reported.
  • HRmax was estimated rather than directly measured.

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported in the HIIT group.
  • Participants were screened and sessions were supervised.