# Effects of school-based high-intensity interval training on health-related fitness in adolescents

PMID: 39619092
Journal: Frontiers in Physiology
Published: 2024-11-15
Authors: Jovanović R, Živković M, Stanković M, Zoretić D, Trajković N

## Question

Does a 12-week Tabata-based HIIT warm-up during physical education improve cardiorespiratory fitness and strength in 15- to 17-year-old adolescents compared with usual PE warm-up?

## Summary

In healthy male adolescents, replacing the traditional warm-up in physical education classes with brief Tabata-style HIIT twice weekly for 12 weeks improved shuttle-run performance, estimated VO2max, right handgrip, standing long jump, and countermovement jump more than usual PE warm-up.

## Population

- Male adolescents aged 15-17 years from first- and second-year secondary grammar school classes.
- Sample size: 60
- Age: 15-17 years; mean 16.33 +/- 0.62 years.
- Sex: Male only.
- Fitness level: Not involved in organized training besides school physical education.
- Health status: Healthy with medical certificate; excluded respiratory/cardiovascular/developmental/chronic disease, injuries, and active athletes.

## Methodology

- Two-group randomized pre/post school intervention.
- 12 weeks
- Secondary grammar school physical education classes and school athletic facility in Serbia.
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- School PE Tabata HIIT warm-up.
- Modality: Mixed bodyweight and running-style exercises.
- Work intervals: 20 seconds.
- Recovery: 10 seconds rest; 1 minute between two 4-minute Tabata blocks.
- Sets or repetitions: Two 4-minute Tabata sessions per PE class; 8 exercises per Tabata.
- Intensity: 80%-90% HRmax calculated by shuttle-run test.
- Session duration: 9 minutes in the preparatory phase, including two 4-minute Tabata sessions and 1-minute between-block break.
- Frequency: 2 sessions per week.
- Program length: 12 weeks.
- Progression: No explicit progression reported; exercises were varied.
- Traditional PE warm-up.
- Modality: Usual physical education warm-up and PE lesson plan.
- Session duration: Preparatory phase of PE class.
- Frequency: 2 PE classes per week.
- Program length: 12 weeks.
- Progression: Regular PE curriculum.

## Outcomes

### Shuttle run
Status: improved
Both groups improved, but the HIIT group improved more in distance and estimated VO2max.

SRT interaction eta_p2=0.111, p<0.01; VO2max interaction eta_p2=0.111, p<0.01.

### Right handgrip
Status: improved
Right handgrip increased significantly in HIIT but not control.

Interaction eta_p2=0.102, p=0.02; EG p=0.001, CG p=0.056.

### Left handgrip
Status: mixed
Left handgrip increased in the HIIT group, but the group-by-time interaction was not significant.

EG p<0.01; interaction eta_p2=0.012.

### Jump performance
Status: improved
Standing long jump and countermovement jump improved more in the HIIT group than control.

SLJ eta_p2=0.182; CMJ eta_p2=0.112; p<0.01.

## Practical Insights

- Brief Tabata blocks can be integrated into PE without replacing the whole class.
- Bodyweight and calisthenic HIIT may improve both aerobic and explosive-strength outcomes in adolescent boys.
- The intervention is school-supervised and should not be generalized to unscreened adolescents.

## Limitations

- Male-only sample.
- Limited sample size and possible selection bias from participants declining participation.
- Physical activity and diet were not objectively measured or strictly controlled.
- Adherence and adverse events were not reported.

## Safety And Adherence

- Participants had medical certificates confirming they were healthy and able to participate.
- The article did not report adverse events, injuries during the intervention, or attendance.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39619092/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1487572) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11604620/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

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