Author(s): MÉNDEZ, K., VIÁN, G., COLOMER-POVEDA, D., MERA-GONZÁLEZ, I., MÁRQUEZ, G., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF CORUÑA, Country: SPAIN, Abstract-ID: 1892

INTRODUCTION:
During High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), work and rest time could be modified to induce different metabolic, mechanical, and perceptual responses (Buchheit & Laursen, 2013). However, up to date, it was not investigated the effect of different work and rest distribution maintaining the same amount of workload and recovery time during a HIIT session. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to compare acute physiological (e.g. ventilatory), metabolic (e.g.: lactate), and perceptual (e.g.: RPE) responses during three HIIT protocols matched in volume and intensity but performed with different work and rest distribution.
METHODS:
Five males and five females (n=10, 27,4 ± 5,4 years, 52,3 ± 7,8 ml/kg/min, 184,9 ± 10,2 bpm, 4,8 ± 0,7 w/kg) underwent graded exercise testing to volitional exhaustion in a cycle ergometer to test they maximal aerobic power (Wmax). Then, they were required to complete three different HIIT training sessions that consisted of a total work time of 12 minutes at 80% of Wmax interposed with a total recovery time of 8 minutes at 25%of Wmax. These protocols have different configurations as described below: 1) 3 x 4 minutes bouts with 4 minutes recovery in between, 2) 6 x 2 minutes bouts with 1 minute and 36 seconds recovery in between; and 3) 12 x 1 minute bouts with 44 seconds in between. Ventilatory (VO2 Master 3230, British-Columbia, Canada), cardiovascular (Polar H10, Finlandia), metabolic (Lactate Pro-2, Arcray Inc) and perceptual (Borg CR-10 scale) response were recorded in each training session and analysed off-line. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed to detect differences between all protocols performed. A statistical level of p < 0,05 was accepted. All data were presented as mean ± SD.
RESULTS:
All the variables analysed in the present study showed higher respiratory (ventilation (+14% and 22%) and tidal volume (+9% and +14%)), metabolic (Lactate, +28% and +91%), cardiovascular (heart rate, +5% and +8%) and perceptual (RPE (+7% and +22%) and leg pain (+2% and +19%)) demands during the protocol configured with larger intervals (4 min) compared to those configured with shorter intervals (2 and 1 min, respectively), despite the total workload and total rest time were matched.
CONCLUSION:
Shorter interval duration shows an attenuated ventilatory, cardiovascular, metabolic and perceptual responses compared with longer interval duration although the equalised volume and intensity resulting in same total workload. This results should be taken into account when prescribing HIIT to enhance performance.