Cardiorespiratory Responses to Constant and Varied-Load Interval Training Sessions

in International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Fernando G. Beltrami, Elena Roos, Marco von Ow, and Christina M. Spengler
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2020-0104
Keywords:
cycling; running; high-intensity interval training; endurance
Published-online:
19 Feb 2021
In Print:
Volume 16: Issue 7
Pages:
1021–1028
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Purpose: To compare the cardiorespiratory responses of a traditional session of high-intensity interval training session with that of a session of similar duration and average load, but with decreasing workload within each bout in cyclists and runners. Methods: A total of 15 cyclists (maximal oxygen uptake [V˙O2max] 62 [6] mL·kg−1·min−1) and 15 runners (V˙O2max 58 [4] mL·kg−1·min−1) performed both sessions at the maximal common tolerable load on different days. The sessions consisted of four 4-minute intervals interspersed with 3 minutes of active recovery. Power output was held constant for each bout within the traditional day, whereas power started 40 W (2 km·h−1) higher and finished 40 W (2 km·h−1) lower than average within each bout of the decremental session. Results: Average oxygen uptake during the high-intensity intervals was higher in the decremental session in cycling (89 [4]% vs 86 [5]% of V˙O2max, P = .002) but not in running (91 [4]% vs 90 [4]% of V˙O2max, P = .38), as was the time spent >90% of V˙O2max and the time spent >90% of peak heart rate. Average heart rate (P < .001), pulmonary ventilation (P < .001), and blood lactate concentration (P < .001) were higher during the decremental sessions in both cycling and running. Conclusions: Higher levels of physiological perturbations were achieved during decremental sessions in both cycling and running. These differences were, however, more prominent in cycling, thus making cycling a more attractive modality for testing the effects of a training intervention.

Beltrami, Roos, von Ow, and Spengler are with the Exercise Physiology Lab, Inst of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland. Spengler is also with the Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Spengler (christina.spengler@hest.ethz.ch) is corresponding author.

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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