PMID 41765942

Research
All papers

Effects of different high-intensity interval training modes of wattbike on anaerobic capacity in Chinese national alpine skiers

Zeng Y, Sun Y, Lin J, Yang Z, Zhou C, Li W

Question

Do two Wattbike HIIT formats with different work-rest structures produce different anaerobic performance adaptations in elite alpine skiers?

Summary

In Chinese national alpine skiers, four weeks of Wattbike HIIT improved repeated lateral jump performance in both formats. Short repeated sprint training better improved relative peak power, while longer speed-endurance maintenance intervals better reduced fatigue index.

Methodology

  • Chinese national-level alpine skiers who completed a 4-week Wattbike HIIT intervention.
  • 18 participants.
  • Wattbike cycling.
  • Work intervals: 10 s all-out.
  • Recovery: 5 s between reps; 180 s between sets.
  • Intensity: All-out, Wattbike air resistance level 10.
  • 10-min warm-up plus 2-min passive recovery plus intervals.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 4 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled parallel-group training study
  • Countermovement jump, Lateral box jump, and Wingate power were tracked.

Outcomes

Lateral jumps

Both groups improved 90-s lateral box jump performance.

RST +7.44 reps, p=0.004; SEMT +6.00 reps, p<0.001; between-group p=0.496.

Improved

Peak power

Relative peak power improved in RST and between-group change favored RST.

RST +0.24 W/kg, p=0.003; SEMT p=0.972; between-group p=0.037.

Improved

Fatigue index

SEMT reduced Wingate fatigue index while RST did not.

SEMT -2.88 percentage points, p=0.001; RST p=0.943; between-group p=0.020.

Improved

Mean power

Relative mean power improved in SEMT; RST showed a nonsignificant trend.

SEMT +0.21 W/kg, p=0.017; RST p=0.056; between-group p=0.138.

Mixed

Insights

  • Short all-out intervals may be better for peak-power emphasis.
  • Longer all-out intervals may be better for fatigue-resistance emphasis.
  • The authors recommend limiting these high-intensity sessions to one or two per week in ski periodization.

Limitations

  • Small sample
  • Elite athlete-only population
  • No non-HIIT control group
  • Concurrent team training
  • Few women and no sex-specific analysis
  • Fixed performance test order

Safety

  • No explicit adverse-event results were reported.
  • Continuous heart-rate monitoring was used.
  • Two screened athletes were excluded for insufficient compliance.