An acute use of foam rollers for SMFR performed immediately prior to running may negatively affect endurance running performance, but its use should be added before explosive motor performances that include stretch-shortening cycles.

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IntroductionObesity treatment guidelines suggest moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), but the patient’s compliance to this indication remains low. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time sparing training mode whose metabolic effects are not clear. This study aimed to determine whether a 12-week HIIT was more effective than MICT for weight loss in obese adults.Methods44 obese subjects were randomised and trained with isoenergetic treadmill exercises for 12 weeks: MICT (60% of maximal oxygen peak, VO2peak) or HIIT (3–7 repetition of 3 min 100% of VO2peak interspersed by 1.5 min 50% of VO2peak). The primary outcome was a change in body weight; the secondary outcomes were changes in body composition, blood pressure, lipid profile, glycaemia, insulin and VO2peak.Results32 subjects (53% male, mean age: 38.5 years, mean body mass index: 35.5 kg/m2) completed the trial. MICT and HIIT showed comparable effect within groups in weight loss (−6.0 kg (−9.0 kg to −3.0 kg) vs −5.7 kg (−8.3 kg to −3.1 kg)), changes in fat mass (−2.9% (−4.4% to −1.4%) vs −3.6% (−5.9% to −1.2%)), fat free mass (−5.3% (−7.8% to −2.8%) vs −5.5% (−8.3% to −2.6%)), diastolic blood pressure (−5.5 mm Hg (−10.6 mm Hg to −0.3 mm Hg) vs −5.8 mm Hg (−11.3 mm Hg to −0.3 mm Hg)) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−16.4 mg/dL (−30.8 mg/dL to −2.0 mg/dL) vs −14.7 mg/dL (−25.6 mg/dL to −3.8 mg/dL)). There was a significant change between groups in VO2peak (HIIT: +461.6 mL (329.3‒593.8 mL); MICT: +170.5 mL (86.7–254.4 mL); p<0001) and duration of sessions (HIIT: 35.0 min (31.7 ‒35.6 min); MICT: 46.5 min (40.2‒48.3 min); p<0.001). No significant changes in systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glycaemia or plasma insulin were observed.ConclusionsIn healthy adults with obesity, HIIT compared with MICT induced similar weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors improvement but resulted in a larger increase in cardiorespiratory fitness over a shorter period.

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Purpose Training near $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2max is considered to be the most effective way to enhance $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2max. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a well-known time-efficient training method for improving cardiorespiratory and metabolic function and $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2max. While long HIIT bouts allow $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2max to be achieved quickly, short HIIT bouts improve time to exhaustion (Tlim). The aim of this study was to evaluate the time spent above 90% $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2peak (T > 90% $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2peak) during three different HIIT protocols. Methods Twelve cyclists performed three HIIT sessions. Each protocol had the same work and recovery power and ratio of work·recovery−1. The protocols consisted of long-interval HIIT (LIHIIT, 3 min work—2 min recovery), short-interval HIIT (SIHIIT, 30 s work—20 s recovery), and high-intensity decreasing interval training (HIDIT, work from 3 min to 30 s and recovery from 2 min to 20 s). T > 90% $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2peak, Tlim, blood lactate [La], and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at Tlim. Results T > 90% $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2peak was greater in HIDIT (312 ± 207 s) than in SIHIIT (182 ± 225 s; P = 0.036) or LIHIIT (179 ± 145 s; P = 0.027). Tlim was not significantly different (P > 0.05) between HIDIT (798 ± 185 s), SIHIIT (714 ± 265 s), and LIHIIT (664 ± 282). At Tlim, no differences in [La] and RPE were found between protocols (P > 0.05). Conclusion HIDIT showed the highest T > 90% $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2peak, suggesting that it may be a good strategy to increase time close to $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2peak, despite similar Tlim, [La], and RPE at Tlim.

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Background: Weight loss through physical exercise is warranted among obese individuals. Recently, a greater benefit in cardiorespiratory fitness was achievable with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) as compared with moderate intensity continuous training. The beneficial effect of training on CV health might be related to a specific modulation of circulating irisin, an adypo-myokine implicated in the regulation of energy expenditure. Methods: The present study investigates the circulating plasma levels of irisin at baseline and in response to 12-week of training program either with HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) among young female and male obese subjects. Clinical, anthropometric, and training characteristics for each participant were available. A sex-disaggregated data for circulating plasma levels of irisin pre- and post-training are provided as well as an adjusted multivariate linear regression model to identify the determinants of post-training irisin levels. Results: Data from a total of 32 obese healthy individuals (47% female, mean age 38.7 years, mean BMI 35.6 kg/m2), randomized in a 1:1 manner to HIIT or MICT were analyzed. Circulating plasma levels of irisin similarly and significantly decreased in both MICT and HIIT interventional groups. Females had higher post-exercise irisin levels than males (6.32 [5.51–6.75] vs. 4.97 [4.57–5.72] μg/mL, p = 0.001). When stratified by an interventional group, a statistically significant difference was observed only for the MICT group (male, 4.76 [4.20–5.45] μg/mL vs. female 6.48 [4.88–6.84] μg/mL p = 0.03). The circulating post-training level of irisin was independently associated with post-training fat-free mass (β −0.34, 95% confidence interval, CI −0.062, −0.006, p = 0.019) in a model adjusted confounders. When female sex was added into the adjusted model, it was retained as the only factor independently associated with irisin levels (β 1.22, 95% CI, 0.50, 1.93, p = 0.002). Conclusions: In obese healthy subjects, circulating irisin levels were reduced in response to 12-weeks of exercise involving either HIIT or MICT. A sex-specific differences in circulating irisin levels at baseline and as biological response to chronic exercise was described. Sex-specific biological response of irisin to exercise should be further explored to tailor sex-specific training approaches for improving the cardiovascular health of obese healthy subjects.

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to examine the short-term changes in body composition and physical capabilities in subjects with obesity during a multidisciplinary inpatient body weight reduction program (BWRP).MethodsOne hundred thirty-nine adolescents (56 boys and 83 girls; BMI: 37.1 ± 6.5 kg/m2; Fat Mass, FM: 45.3 ± 7.2%) and 71 adults (27 males and 44 females; BMI: 44 ± 4.7 kg/m2; FM: 51.4 ± 4.7%) followed a 3-week inpatient BWRP consisting of regular physical activity, moderate energy restriction, nutritional education and psychological counseling. Before (T0) and after the end of the BWRP (T21), body composition was assessed with an impedancemeter, lower limb muscle power with Margaria Stair Climbing Test (SCT), lower limb functionality with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and the capacity of performing activity of daily living (ADL) with Physical Performance Test (PPT).ResultsAt T21, obese adolescents showed a 4% reduction in body mass (BM) (p &lt; 0.001), associated with a FM reduction in boys (−10%) and girls (−6%) (p &lt; 0.001) and with a 3% reduction in fat-free mass (FFM) recorded only in boys (p = 0.013). Obese adults showed a 5% BM reduction (p &lt; 0.001), associated with a 2% FFM and 9% FM reduction (p &lt; 0.001) in males, and 7% FM reduction in females (p &lt; 0.001). Regarding physical capabilities, at T21 in obese adolescents, PPT score increased by 4% (p &lt; 0.001), SCT decreased by −5% (boys) and −7% (girls) (p &lt; 0.001), while SPPB score did not change significantly. In obese adults at T21, PPT score increased by 9% (p &lt; 0.001), SCT decreased by −16% (p &lt; 0.001) only in females, and SPPB score increased by 7% (males) and 10% (females) (p &lt; 0.01).ConclusionIn conclusion, moderate energy restriction and regular physical activity determine a 4-5% BM reduction during a 3-week inpatient BWRP, improve physical capabilities and induce beneficial changes in body composition in adolescents and adults with obesity.Trial registrationThis study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano (Milan, Italy; research code: 01C124; acronym: PRORIPONATFIS). Registered 11 November 2020 - Retrospectively registered.