# Acute Cardiopulmonary Response of High-Intensity Interval Training with Elastic Resistance vs. High-Intensity Interval Training on a Treadmill in Healthy Adults

PMID: 37372648
Journal: International journal of environmental research and public health
Published: 2023 Jun 6
Authors: Neves LNS, Gasparini-Neto VH, Leite RD, Carletti L

## Question

How do acute cardiopulmonary, lactate, and perceived-exertion responses differ between elastic-resistance HIIT and treadmill HIIT in healthy adults?

## Summary

In healthy active adults, a single elastic-resistance HIIT session produced higher overall heart-rate, ventilation, oxygen uptake, lactate, and perceived-exertion responses than a treadmill HIIT session matched to about 85% VO2max. Elastic-resistance HIIT reached the target cardiopulmonary zone earlier and for more bouts, but the study measured only acute responses.

## Population

- Twenty-two healthy adults, 11 men and 11 women, mean age 27.6 years, BMI 18-25, physically independent and meeting at least 150 min/week of physical activity. Two additional recruits dropped out for personal reasons.
- Sample size: 22
- Age: Mean 27.6 years
- Sex: 11 men and 11 women
- Fitness level: Physically active healthy adults
- Health status: Healthy adults without cardiopulmonary/inflammatory contraindications

## Methodology

- Randomized acute crossover study
- Single acute sessions separated by about 7 days
- Laboratory exercise physiology setting
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Elastic-resistance HIIT.
- Modality: Running forward and backward against elastic resistance.
- Work intervals: 10 x 1 min work bouts.
- Recovery: 1 min passive rest.
- Sets or repetitions: 10 repetitions.
- Intensity: About 85% VO2max from elastic-resistance cardiopulmonary test, cadence 200 bpm.
- Session duration: 3 min warm-up plus 20 min interval block.
- Frequency: Single acute session.
- Program length: Acute crossover visit.
- Progression: No progression; single-session comparison.
- Treadmill HIIT.
- Modality: Treadmill running.
- Work intervals: 10 x 1 min work bouts.
- Recovery: 1 min passive rest.
- Sets or repetitions: 10 repetitions.
- Intensity: About 85% VO2max from treadmill cardiopulmonary test.
- Session duration: 3 min warm-up plus 20 min interval block.
- Frequency: Single acute session.
- Program length: Acute crossover visit.
- Progression: No progression; single-session comparison.

## Outcomes

### Cardiopulmonary load
Status: improved
Elastic-resistance HIIT showed higher overall peak and average HR, ventilation, VO2, VCO2, and perceived exertion than treadmill HIIT.

### Target intensity
Status: improved
Elastic-resistance HIIT reached 80% VO2max by the second bout and maintained target intensity in 90% of bouts; treadmill HIIT reached it by the fourth bout and maintained it in 70% of bouts.

### Bout peaks
Status: no clear change
When only exercise bouts were compared, peak values were not significantly different between modalities.

### Perceived exertion
Status: worse/safety concern
Elastic-resistance HIIT produced higher Borg and OMNI perceived exertion and reached moderate-to-hard ratings earlier.

## Practical Insights

- Elastic resistance can make short HIIT bouts reach high cardiopulmonary strain quickly.
- The same 1 min work / 1 min rest timing can feel harder depending on modality.
- Acute physiological intensity should not be mistaken for proven long-term training benefit.

## Limitations

- Acute single-session study only.
- Healthy active young adults only.
- No chronic training adaptations or adherence outcomes.
- Sleep, caffeine, alcohol, and pre-test behavior were requested but not objectively verified.

## Safety And Adherence

- No accidents occurred during elastic-resistance cardiopulmonary testing; no other adverse events were reported. Participants were screened for several health risks.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37372648/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126061) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10297943/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

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