Physiological adaptations to low‐volume, high‐intensity interval training in health and disease

Abstract

Exercise training is a clinically proven, cost-effective, primary intervention that delays and in many cases prevents the health burdens associated with many chronic diseases. However, the precise type and dose of exercise needed to accrue health benefits is a contentious issue with no clear consensus recommendations for the prevention of inactivity-related disorders and chronic diseases. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that high-intensity interval training (HIT) can serve as an effective alternate to traditional endurance-based training, inducing similar or even superior physiological adaptations in healthy individuals and diseased populations, at least when compared on a matched-work basis. While less well studied, low-volume HIT can also stimulate physiological remodelling comparable to moderate-intensity continuous training despite a substantially lower time commitment and reduced total exercise volume. Such findings are important given that 'lack of time' remains the most commonly cited barrier to regular exercise participation. Here we review some of the mechanisms responsible for improved skeletal muscle metabolic control and changes in cardiovascular function in response to low-volume HIT. We also consider the limited evidence regarding the potential application of HIT to people with, or at risk for, cardiometabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes. Finally, we provide insight on the utility of low-volume HIT for improving performance in athletes and highlight suggestions for future research.

Can Doping be a Good Thing? Using Psychoactive Drugs to Facilitate Physical Activity Behaviour

“…Given that time is perceived to be one of the main barriers to regular physical activity [9,10], vigorous exercise has a clear advantage over moderate-intensity exercise as a way to meet the current physical activity guidelines. There is also growing physiological and epidemiological evidence that vigorous exercise may be essential to maximise the benefits of physical activity [15][16][17][18]. Therefore, I believe it is worthwhile to find ways to facilitate vigorous exercise in the general population so that it is not limited to relatively few athletes and fitness enthusiasts.…”

Impact of low-volume, high-intensity interval training on maximal aerobic capacity, health-related quality of life and motivation to exercise in ageing men

“…HIIT is characterised by brief, intermittent bursts of vigorous exercise, interspersed by periods of rest or low intensity recovery (Gibala et al 2012). There is an emergent body of evidence that endorses HIIT as an effective alternative to traditional endurance training that can yield improvements in both cardiorespiratory fitness and variety of health outcomes.…”

Interval Training Is Insufficient to Attenuate Metabolic Disturbances in Diabetic Rats

“…We infer that the divergence between our results and the previous reported studies maybe be mainly related to volume of training (two weeks, total of six sessions) applied in the present study. According to Gibala et al 9 high-intensity interval training is infinitely variable with the specific physiological adaptations induced by this form of training determined by Table 2. Serum glucose, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triacylglycerol (TAG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations from sedentary (SE), sedentary diabetic (DI) and interval training diabetic (DIT) groups at the end of two weeks of training.…”

“…There is no standardized number, length, or intensity of the intervals in a IT session, which makes inherently difficult comparisons between research studies. Nevertheless, there is accumulating evidence that a variety of IT protocols are highly effective at improving cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelial function, glycemic control, lipids profile, blood presure, muscle metabolic capacity, and insulin sensitivity 9 .…”