Effects of reduced‐volume of sprint interval training and the time course of physiological and performance adaptations. (26th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yamagishi, T.; Babraj, J.
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. Volume 27:Number 12(2017)
• Page Start: 1662
• Page End: 1672
• Publication Date: 2017-01-26
• Subjects: endurance capacity -- peak oxygen uptake -- sprint‐to‐rest ratio -- time course of training adaptations; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1111/sms.12831
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-7188

Abstract

Abstract : This study sought to determine the time course of training adaptations to two different sprint interval training programmes with the same sprint: rest ratio (1:8) but different sprint duration. Nine participants (M: 7; F: 2) were assigned to 15‐second training group (15TG) consisting of 4‐6 × 15‐second sprints interspersed with 2‐minute recovery, whereas eight participants (M: 5; F: 3) were assigned to 30‐second training group (30TG) consisting of 4‐6 × 30 second sprints interspersed with 4‐minute recovery. Both groups performed their respective training twice per week over 9 weeks and changes in peak oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 peak ) and time to exhaustion (TTE) were assessed every 3 weeks. Additional eight healthy active adults (M: 6; F: 2) completed the performance assessments 9 weeks apart without performing training (control group, CON). Following 9 weeks of training, both groups improved V ˙ O 2 peak (15TG: 12.1%; 30TG: 12.8%, P <.05) and TTE (15TG: 16.2%; 30TG: 12.8%, P <.01) to a similar extent. However, while both groups showed the greatest gains in V ˙ O 2 peak at 3 weeks (15TG: 16.6%; 30TG: 17.0%, P <.001), those in TTE were greatest at 9 weeks. CON did not change any of performance variables following 9 weeks. This study demonstrated that while the changes in cardiorespiratory function plateau within several weeks with sprint interval training, endurance capacity (TTE) is more sensitive to such training over a longer time frame in moderately‐trained individuals. Furthermore, a 50% reduction in sprint duration does not diminish overall training adaptations over 9 weeks.