PMID 41918862

Research
All papers

Physical and physiological effects of game based and running based High Intensity Interval Training with equal volume: a 4 week quasi experimental study

Karabıyık H, Durmuş T, Güler Ö, Gürkan O, Bilgin S, Aras D, Gürses VV, Koz M, Gülü M, Yapici H, Al-Mhanna SB, Yasar OM, Aldhahi MI

Question

Do equal-volume game-based and running-based HIIT protocols produce different physical and physiological adaptations in amateur soccer players over 4 weeks?

Summary

In amateur male soccer players, five equal-volume 4-week HIIT formats improved VO2max and maximal aerobic speed. Game-based and running-based protocols produced broadly similar fitness changes, while agility and autonomic measures varied by format. The study is sport-specific, short, and small by group.

Methodology

  • Male amateur soccer players from university/local amateur clubs, excluding goalkeepers.
  • 40 participants.
  • Small-sided soccer games, 100 m running intervals, or sprint interval training.
  • Work intervals: 15 seconds, 1 minute, or 2 minutes depending on group.
  • Recovery: 1-2 minutes depending on group.
  • Intensity: About 90-105% prescribed running/game intensity or all-out sprinting.
  • 20-21 minutes including 5 minute warm-up and 5 minute cooldown.
  • 3 sessions per week.
  • 4 weeks; 12 sessions.
  • Parallel-group randomized repeated-measures quasi-experimental study
  • VO2max, Maximal aerobic speed, Reactive agility, and Body composition and anaerobic performance were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2max

All five HIIT formats improved estimated VO2max, with no meaningful between-group superiority.

Time effect F=51.913, p<0.001, eta2=0.619; no significant group or group x time effect.

Improved

MAS

Maximal aerobic speed improved in all groups.

Time effect F=53.985, p<0.001, eta2=0.628.

Improved

Reactive agility

Reactive agility improved in all groups except the running long-interval group.

RAT time effect F=27.106, p<0.001; group effect p=0.016; no significant interaction.

Mixed

Body composition

Body composition and several sprint/anaerobic outcomes did not significantly change.

The article reports no significant effects for body composition, RAST, and sprint-test results.

No clear change

Insights

  • For amateur soccer players, multiple short field-based HIIT formats can improve aerobic fitness over 4 weeks.
  • Game-based HIIT can be used when sport specificity and agility are priorities, while running intervals may be simpler to prescribe.
  • The findings should not be generalized to non-athletes or non-soccer contexts without caution.

Limitations

  • Small group sizes of 8 players each.
  • Short 4-week duration.
  • Homogeneous male soccer sample.
  • Quasi-experimental framing limits causal certainty despite random assignment.
  • Field-based sport context limits translation to home HIIT.

Safety

  • The article screened for good health and absence of serious lower-extremity injury in the prior 12 months.
  • GPS, HR, and RPE were monitored.
  • Adverse events and dropouts were not clearly summarized in the paper.