Performance and Recovery of Well-Trained Younger and Older Athletes during Different HIIT Protocols

Abstract

Due to physiological and morphological differences, younger and older athletes may recover differently from training loads. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols are useful for studying the progression of recovery. It was the objective of this study to determine age differences in performance and recovery following different HIIT protocols. Methods: 12 younger (24.5 ± 3.7 years) and 12 older (47.3 ± 8.6 years) well-trained cyclists and triathletes took part in this study. Between the age groups there were no significant differences in relative peak power to fat-free mass, maximal heart rate (HR), training volume, and VO2max-percentiles (%). Participants performed different HIIT protocols consisting of 4 × 30 s Wingate tests with different active rest intervals (1, 3, or 10 min). Peak and average power, lactate, HR, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and recovery (Total Quality Recovery scale, TQR) were assessed. Results: During the different HIIT protocols, metabolic, cardiovascular, and subjective recovery were similar between the two groups. No significant differences were found in average lactate concentration, peak and average power, fatigue (%), %HRmax, RER, RPE, and TQR values between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that recovery following HIIT does not differ between the two age groups. Furthermore, older and younger participants displayed similar lactate kinetics after the intermittent exercise protocols.

Effects of a High-Intensity Interval Physical Exercise Program on Cognition, Physical Performance, and Electroencephalogram Patterns in Korean Elderly People: A Pilot Study

“…Our study is significant as it showed beneficial electroencephalographic changes in elderly patients after they performed the PEI program that included HIIT. Although task-specific electroencephalographic changes at the moment of performing specific cognitive domain tasks have been studied in young adult men after HIIT, 31 32 the post-interventional resting-state electroencephalographic effect of HIIT has not been elucidated. In general, resting EEG findings change with aging, with gradual alteration in the spectral power profile.…”

The potential benefits of assessing post-cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in aging: a narrative review

“…Therefore, more research is needed to establish the key age-related changes affecting the ventilatory responses. However, when comparing between well-trained younger (~ 24.5 ± 3.7 years old; 8 males, 4 females) and well-trained older adults (~ 47.3 ± 8.6 years old; 8 males, 4 females) there were no significant differences between post-exercise recovery kinetics [ 22 ]. These studies suggest that although aging leads to slower post-exercise recovery kinetics, exercise training status of an individual can mitigate this age-related decline which highlights the importance of maintaining regular exercise training across the lifespan.…”