PMID 36685190

Research
All papers

Effects of a paddling-based high-intensity interval training prescribed using anaerobic speed reserve on sprint kayak performance

Du G, Tao T

Question

Does ASR-prescribed paddling HIIT improve sprint kayak performance and physiological adaptation more than MAS-prescribed HIIT or usual endurance paddling?

Summary

In national-level male sprint kayakers, four weeks of kayak-ergometer HIIT improved aerobic and performance markers more consistently when intensity was prescribed from anaerobic speed reserve than when prescribed only from maximal aerobic speed. The protocol is highly sport-specific and athlete-focused.

Methodology

  • National-level male sprint kayak athletes.
  • 24 participants.
  • Kayak ergometer paddling.
  • Work intervals: 60 seconds.
  • Recovery: 120 seconds, with 3 minutes between sets.
  • Intensity: MAS plus 20% of anaerobic speed reserve.
  • Included 10-minute warm-up, HIIT work, and 5-minute cooldown.
  • 3 sessions per week.
  • 4 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled training study
  • VO2peak, Maximal aerobic speed, Repeated upper-body sprint power, and Kayak time trial were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2peak

ASR-HIIT increased VO2peak and produced greater change than control.

ASR-HIIT +6.9%, p=0.00001, d=0.8; ASR-HIIT vs control p=0.008.

Improved

MAS

Maximal aerobic speed improved in both HIIT groups and more than control.

ASR-HIIT +7.2%, p=0.00001, d=1.1; ASR-HIIT vs control p=0.001.

Improved

Wingate power

Peak and average power increased across repeated upper-body Wingate trials in both HIIT groups, not control.

Both HIIT groups improved PPO and APO across four trials; control did not.

Improved

500 m time

Only ASR-HIIT significantly improved 500 m kayak time-trial performance within group.

120.37 +/- 4.37 to 118.05 +/- 3.88 s, -1.92%, p=0.00004, d=0.56.

Improved

1000 m time

Only ASR-HIIT significantly improved 1000 m kayak time-trial performance within group.

244.62 +/- 6.78 to 241.08 +/- 6.95 s, -1.5%, p=0.00001, d=0.51.

Improved

Response variability

ASR-HIIT produced lower coefficients of variation than MAS-HIIT for several physiological adaptations.

Examples: VO2peak CV 8.7% vs 48.2%; MAS CV 11.1% vs 33.3%.

Improved

Insights

  • For trained paddlers, prescribing intensity from anaerobic speed reserve may individualize HIIT better than using maximal aerobic speed alone.
  • The performance improvements are sport-specific and should not be generalized to general fitness users.
  • The study supports individualizing interval intensity, but not necessarily this kayak-specific dose for HIITplay.

Limitations

  • Small sample of elite/national-level male athletes.
  • Only men were recruited.
  • Diet could not be strictly monitored.
  • Findings apply to the specific HIIT regimens tested.
  • Unknown whether different HIIT volumes would produce similar results.

Safety

  • Participants were medically screened and medication-free.
  • No adverse events were reported in the the paper.