Affective valence predictors from real-world based short sprint interval training
Question
Which physiological responses predict affective valence after real-world short sprint interval training?
Summary
Seventeen healthy moderately active adults completed four very short sprint interval sessions using 10 x 4-second all-out running bouts. Participants reported positive post-session affect on average, completed all sessions, and the authors explicitly reported no fainting, respiratory events, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, or musculoskeletal injuries.
Methodology
- Seventeen healthy moderately active Hispanic young adults
- 17 participants.
- All-out running.
- Work intervals: 4 seconds.
- Recovery: 30 seconds passive standing.
- Intensity: All-out.
- 8 min 10 s including warm-up.
- Four sessions across two weeks.
- 2 weeks.
- Cross-sectional repeated-session observational exercise study
- Affective valence, Perceived exertion, Heart-rate response, and Safety were tracked.
Outcomes
Affect
Average post-session affective valence was positive.
Feeling Scale 2.6 +/- 1.8.
Intensity
Sessions reached vigorous intensity.
77-93% HRpeak; mean HR 160.3 +/- 12.8 bpm.
Predictors
HR recovery, time >=90% HRpeak, and RMSSDend predicted affect.
F(3,61)=5.57, p=0.002, adjusted R2=0.177.
Safety
No adverse symptoms or injuries were reported.
Insights
- Very short all-out sprint bouts may produce positive affect in already active adults.
- Affect and recovery markers can be useful personalization signals.
- The total all-out work dose was only 40 seconds per session.
Limitations
- Small sample.
- Participants were moderately active, not inactive or clinical.
- Menstrual cycle was not controlled.
- Affect was measured immediately after exercise only.
- No lactate measurement and no long-term adherence outcomes.
Safety
- All 17 participants completed all four sessions.
- The authors explicitly reported no fainting, respiratory events, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, or musculoskeletal injuries.
- Participants were screened to exclude cardiometabolic risk, musculoskeletal injury, pregnancy/lactation, supplements, drugs, and tobacco use.