Inter-Individual Different Responses to Continuous and Interval Training in Recreational Middle-Aged Women Runners

Abstract

A crucial subject in sports is identifying the inter-individual variation in response to training, which would allow creating individualized pre-training schedules, improving runner's performance. We aimed to analyze heterogeneity in individual responses to two half-marathon training programs differing in running volume and intensity in middleaged recreational women. 20 women (40 ± 7 years, 61 ± 7 kg, 167 ± 6 cm, and VO 2 max = 48 ± 6 mL•kg −1 •min −1) underwent either moderate-intensity continuous (MICT) or high-intensity interval (HIIT) 12-week training. They were evaluated before and after training with maximal incremental tests in the laboratory (VO 2 max) and in the field (time to exhaustion, TTE; short interval series and long run). All the women participated in the same half-marathon and their finishing times were compared with their previous times. Although the improvements in the mean finishing times were not significant, MICT elicited a greater reduction (3 min 50 s, P = 0.298), with more women (70%) improving on their previous times, than HIIT (reduction of 2 min 34 s, P = 0.197, 50% responders). Laboratory tests showed more differences in the HIIT group (P = 0.008), while both groups presented homogeneous significant (P < 0.05) increases in TTE. Both in the short interval series and in the long run, HIIT induced better individual improvements, with a greater percentage of responders compared to MICT (100% vs 50% in the short series and 78% vs 38% in the long run). In conclusion, variability in interindividual responses was observed after both MICT and HIIT, with some participants showing improvements (responders) while others did not (non-responders) in different performance parameters, reinforcing the idea that individualized training prescription is needed to optimize performance.

Benefits on Hematological and Biochemical Parameters of a High-Intensity Interval Training Program for a Half-Marathon in Recreational Middle-Aged Women Runners

“…This finding indicates a difference in the acute response to exercise depending on the intensity and volume of training. Moreover, it is in accordance with the inter-individual variability found in some performance and physiological indicators in response to these training programs [ 50 ].…”

Slow and Steady, or Hard and Fast? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Comparing Body Composition Changes between Interval Training and Moderate Intensity Continuous Training

“…Variance of treatment responses to IT and MICT has been relatively underexplored, despite numerous studies purporting that there may be inter-individual response variation to IT and MICT for a range of outcomes [19][20][21]. Indeed, some have argued that such variations may mask differences between IT and MICT for fat loss [22].…”

“…A recent meta-analysis of aerobic exercise in overweight and obese children and adolescents found no evidence of 'true' interindividual response variation in fat loss [18]. However, numerous studies have purported that there may be inter-individual response variation to IT and MICT for a range of outcomes [19][20][21], and indeed it has been argued that such variation may mask differences between IT and MICT for fat loss [22]. Thus, we also sought to examine whether there is evidence of 'true' inter-individual response variation for body composition outcomes for both IT and MICT [23,24].…”

How hard should you train? A meta-analysis of studies comparing body composition changes between interval training and moderate intensity continuous training

“…Variance of treatment responses to IT and MICT has been relatively underexplored despite numerous studies purporting that there may be inter-individual response variation to IT and MICT for a range of outcomes (17)(18)(19). Indeed, some have argued that such variation may mask differences between IT and MICT for fat loss (20).…”

“…A recent meta-analysis of aerobic exercise in overweight and obese children and adolescents found no evidence of 'true' inter-individual response variation in fat loss (16). However, numerous studies have purported that there may be inter-individual response variation to IT and MICT for a range of outcomes (17)(18)(19), and indeed it has been argued that such variation may mask differences between IT and MICT for fat loss (20). Thus, we also sought to examine whether there is evidence of 'true' inter-individual response variation for body composition outcomes for both IT and MICT (21,22).…”