Molecular, Systemic, and Physiological Adaptations to High-Intensity Interval Training in Flatwater Kayak Athletes
Question
What physiological, systemic, and molecular adaptations occur after eight weeks of kayak-specific HIIT in flatwater kayak athletes?
Summary
In a very small group of national-level male kayak athletes, eight weeks of supervised kayak-ergometer HIIT improved 200 m and 1000 m performance and changed several molecular markers, but VO2max did not significantly change.
Methodology
- National-level male flatwater kayak athletes.
- 6 participants.
- Kayak ergometer.
- Work intervals: 30 s at 120% VO2max.
- Recovery: 60 s passive recovery.
- Intensity: 120% VO2max.
- Interval block about 11.5 min; warm-up/cool-down not reported.
- 3 sessions/week.
- 8 weeks.
- Uncontrolled pre-post intervention
- Kayak performance, VO2max, and Molecular markers were tracked.
Outcomes
Performance
200 m and 1000 m times improved.
1000 m p=0.0027; 200 m p=0.0004.
VO2max
VO2max did not significantly change.
p=0.593.
Body fat
Body fat percentage decreased.
11.80% to 10.59%, p=0.002.
Insights
- Sport-specific 30/60 intervals may improve race performance in trained athletes.
- Do not equate performance gains with VO2max gains.
Limitations
- Very small sample
- No control group
- Male athlete-only cohort
- Molecular directions partly unclear for inflammation
- Simulator-specific testing
Safety
- No adverse events were reported.
- Eight athletes enrolled and six completed; reasons for non-completion were not reported.
- Training was coach-supervised, sessions were spaced with at least 24 h between sessions, and biopsy procedures used local anesthesia with no adverse biopsy events reported.