Four weeks of running sprint interval training improves cardiorespiratory fitness in young and middle-aged adults. Issue 13 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Willoughby, Taura N.; Thomas, Matthew P.L.; Schmale, Matthew S.; Copeland, Jennifer L.; Hazell, Tom J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 34:Issue 13(2016)
• Page Start: 1207
• Page End: 1214
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: High-intensity interval training -- VO2max -- time trial -- aerobic power -- anaerobic performance; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2015.1102316
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 4-week running sprint interval training protocol to improve both aerobic and anaerobic fitness in middle-aged adults (40–50 years) as well as compare the adaptations to younger adults (20–30 years). Twenty-eight inactive participants – 14 young 20–30-year-olds ( n = 7 males) and 14 middle-aged 40–50-year-olds ( n = 5 males) – completed 4 weeks of running sprint interval training (4 to 6, 30-s "all-out" sprints on a curved, self-propelled treadmill separated by 4 min active recovery performed 3 times per week). Before and after training, all participants were assessed for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max ), 2000 m time trial performance, and anaerobic performance on a single 30-s sprint. There were no interactions between group and time for any tested variable, although training improved relative VO2max (young = 3.9, middle-aged = 5.2%; P < 0.04), time trial performance (young = 5.9, middle-aged = 8.2%; P < 0.001), peak sprint speed (young = 9.3, middle-aged = 2.2%; P < 0.001), and average sprint speed (young = 6.8, middle-aged = 11.6%; P < 0.001) in both young and middle-aged groups from pre- to post-training on the 30-s sprint test. The current study demonstrates that a 4-week running sprint interval training programme is equally effective at improving aerobic and anaerobic fitness in younger and middle-aged adults.