Effects of High-Intensity Interval Walking Training on Physical Fitness and Blood Pressure in Middle-Aged and Older People

Abstract

KEN-ICHI NEMOTO, MS; HIROKAZU GEN-NO, PHD; SHIZUE MASUKI, PHD; KAZUNOBU OKAZAKI, PHD; AND HIROSHI NOSE, MD, PHD OBJECTIVE: To examine whether high-intensity interval walking training increased thigh muscle strength and peak aerobic capacity and reduced blood pressure more than moderateintensity continuous walking training. From May 18, 2004, to October 15, 2004 (5-month study period), 60 men and 186 women with a mean ± SD age of 63±6 years were randomly divided into 3 groups: no walking training, moderate-intensity continuous walking training, and high-intensity interval walking training. Participants in the moderate-intensity continuous walking training group were instructed to walk at approximately 50% of their peak aerobic capacity for walking, using a pedometer to verify that they took 8000 steps or more per day for 4 or more days per week. Those in the high-intensity interval walking training group, who were monitored by accelerometry, were instructed to repeat 5 or more sets of 3-minute low-intensity walking at 40% of peak aerobic capacity for walking followed by a 3-minute high-intensity walking above 70% of peak aerobic capacity for walking per day for 4 or more days per week. Isometric knee extension and flexion forces, peak aerobic capacity for cycling, and peak aerobic capacity for walking were all measured both before and after training. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: RESULTS:The targets were met by 9 of 25 men and 37 of 59 women in the no walking training group, by 8 of 16 men and 43 of 59 women in the moderate-intensity continuous walking training group, and by 11 of 19 men and 31 of 68 women in the highintensity interval walking training group. In the high-intensity interval walking training group, isometric knee extension increased by 13%, isometric knee flexion by 17%, peak aerobic capacity for cycling by 8%, and peak aerobic capacity for walking by 9% (all, P<.001), all of which were significantly greater than the increases observed in the moderate-intensity continuous walking training group (all, P<.01). Moreover, the reduction in resting systolic blood pressure was higher for the high-intensity interval walking training group (P=.01).CONCLUSION: High-intensity interval walking may protect against age-associated increases in blood pressure and decreases in thigh muscle strength and peak aerobic capacity.

The effects of high intensity interval training in women with rheumatic disease: a pilot study

“…The average baseline values of VO 2max reported in this study is in line with a previous study reporting that VO 2max is reduced by ~20 % in patients with RA (Ekdahl and Broman 1992). It has previously been shown that HIIT is effective in improving VO 2max both for healthy individuals at all ages and for other patient groups Makrides et al 1990;Nemoto et al 2007;Wenger and Bell 1986;Tjonna et al 2008Tjonna et al , 2009Wisloff et al 2007). As anticipated, our results show an average 12 % increase (4.4 ml/kg/min) in VO 2max after the exercise intervention.…”

Does a Single Session of High-Intensity Interval Training Provoke a Transient Elevated Risk of Falling in Seniors and Adults?

“…As high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve maximal oxygen uptake and cardiac capacity (stroke volume) up to 15% in young adults [15], HIIT has been successfully applied in clinical and older population [16,17,18]. Compared to continuous submaximal aerobic exercise training, HIIT thus seems to serve as a feasible and time-efficient training regimen also for seniors.…”

Real-Time Vital Monitoring for Persons during Exercises — Solutions and Challenges —

“…VO2 can be indirectly estimated by using acceleration data, which has been well investigated for several exercises such as slow and fast walking [11].…”

“…Figure 16 compares the VO2 directly measured by the VO2 meter with that estimated by the triaxial accelerometer, changing the speed of the treadmill from 0 km/h to 16 km/h. Note that the data were obtained for five different subjects and the equation in [11] is used to estimate the VO2 from the triaxial accelerometer data. From the low to middle VO2 values, the estimated VO2 values agree well with the measured VO2 values, but the high VO2 values are over-estimated.…”