Recovery Methods for Athletes During High-Intensity Training

Abstract

Introduction: The continuous improvement of the level of modern sports competition compels continuous reform and constant updates on sports training theory; sports training research is migrating from continuous low-intensity to high-intensity interval, and many studies have shown that high-intensity interval training has a good effect on athletes. Objective: Investigate the effect of different recovery modalities during high-intensity interval training on the athletic performance of young male runners. Methods: Using body morphological index measurement, high-intensity intermittent exhaustion test, and statistical analysis, forty young male long-distance runners from sports schools were randomly divided into active recovery group (AR, n=20) and passive recovery group (PR, n=20), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and maximal aerobic speed (MAV) were measured by incremental load exercise test, and interval exercise capacity and time to exhaustion (ET) were recorded. Results: Compared with pre-training, MAV and ET in both groups increased significantly after training (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in MAV on RA group after training (P>0.05). Conclusion: High-intensity interval training with active recovery can significantly improve athletic ability and performance in young male runners in the long term. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

Effects of high-intensity interval training on strength, speed, and endurance performance among racket sports players: A systematic review

“…From an energy metabolism perspective, anaerobic endurance primarily relies on the phosphagen and glycolysis systems. Notably, HIIT primarily employs the glycolytic energy supply system and a blended metabolic system incorporating both phosphate and glycolysis [35,71,72,75].…”

“…HIIT reigns as a widely embraced and potent exercise methodology, celebrated for its capacity to significantly enhance cardiovascular endurance and foster overall strength [33][34][35]. At its essence, HIIT thrives on the rhythmic alternation of brief, vigorous exercise intervals with equally succinct interludes of rest or low-intensity activity [36].…”

“…Nevertheless, HIIT has emerged as the prevailing and universally embraced terminology in the fitness community [43,44]. This consensus streamlines communication and fosters better understanding among coaches, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts, rendering it the primary choice for describing this training method in most contexts [18,35]. Current research on HIIT confirms its efficacy in improving individual strength and promoting muscle hypertrophy (muscle growth) in athletes [4,45].…”