Hiit
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1515/hukin-2017-0030 127
Section II‐ Exercise Physiology & Sports Medicine
by
Carolina Cabral-Santos , José Gerosa-Neto1, Daniela S. Inoue1, Fabrício E. Rossi1,
1
The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological responses to moderate-intensity continuous and
high-intensity intermittent exercise. Twelve physically active male subjects were recruited and completed a 5-km run
on a treadmill in two experimental sessions in randomized order: continuously (70% sVO2max) and intermittently (1:1
min at sVO2max). Oxygen uptake, excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, lactate concentration, heart rate and rating
of perceived exertion data were recorded during and after each session. The lactate levels exhibited higher values
immediately post-exercise than at rest (High-Intensity: 1.43 ± 0.25 to 7.36 ± 2.78; Moderate-Intensity: 1.64 ± 1.01 to
4.05 ± 1.52 mmol·L-1, p = 0.0004), but High-Intensity promoted higher values (p = 0.001) than Moderate-Intensity.
There was a difference across time on oxygen uptake at all moments tested in both groups (High-Intensity: 100.19 ±
8.15L; Moderate-Intensity: 88.35 ± 11.46, p < 0.001). Both exercise conditions promoted increases in excess post-
exercise oxygen consumption (High-Intensity: 6.61 ± 1.85 L; Moderate-Intensity: 5.32 ± 2.39 L, p < 0.005), but higher
values were observed in the High-Intensity exercise protocol. High-Intensity was more effective at modifying the heart
rate and rating of perceived exertion (High-Intensity: 183 ± 12.54 and 19; Moderate-Intensity: 172 ± 8.5 and 16,
respectively, p < 0.05). In conclusion, over the same distance, Moderate-Intensity and High-Intensity exercise exhibited
different lactate concentrations, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion. As expected, the metabolic contribution also
differed, and High-Intensity induced higher energy expenditure, however, the total duration of the session may have to
be taken into account. Moreover, when following moderate-intensity training, the percentage of sVO2max and the
anaerobic threshold might influence exercise and training responses.
Key words: physiologic responses, energy expenditure, lactate concentration, high intensity intermittent exercise,
acute exercise, excess post-exercise oxygen uptake.
Introduction
The implementation of low to moderate have demonstrated the benefits of moderate-
intensity and long duration continuous efforts has intensity continuous exercise (MICE) on body
been classically prescribed for the maintenance or composition, metabolic risk factors and
improvement of aerobic capacity and health improving maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max).
promotion in different populations (Haskell et al., MICE promotes metabolic health via anti-
2007; Nelson et al., 2007). Several meta-analyses inflammatory effects, increasing the activity of
1 - Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP),
São Paulo, Brazil.
2 - Department of Kinesiology, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, USA.
4 - Department of Sports, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
.
Authors submitted their contribution to the article to the editorial board.
Accepted for printing in the Journal of Human Kinetics vol. 56/2017 in March 2017.
128 Physiological acute response to high-intensity intermittent and moderate-intensity....
Table 1
Subjects’ characteristics.
Table 2
Summary of exercise descriptors for high-intensity exercise (HIIE)
and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) protocols (n=12).
MICE HIIE
Variable
Protocol run at 70% sVO2max 1:1-minute at 100% sVO2max
Table 3
Mean ± standard deviation of aerobic, anaerobic lactic and alactic contribution,
total energy expenditure, and excess post oxygen consumption
during moderate intensity continuous exercise, and high intensity interval exercise (n = 12).
Variable MICE HIIE
Aerobic contribution
L 83.66 ± 11.28 96.59 ± 8.23*
kJ 1748.47 ± 235.73 2018.66 ± 172.04*
Anaerobic alactic contribution
L 1.68 ± 0.28 1.64 ± 0.50
kJ 35.11 ± 5.81 34.28 ± 10.35
Anaerobic lactic contribution
L 0.64 ± 0.67 1.27 ± 0.76*
kJ 13.33 ± 13.93 26.59 ± 15.78*
Total energy expenditure
L 88.35 ± 11.46 100.19 ± 8.15*
kJ 1846.60 ± 239.50 2094.06 ± 170.27*
EPOC
L 5.32 ± 2.39 6.61 ± 1.85*
kJ 111.19 ± 49.97 138.21 ± 38.69*
Figure 1
Difference on [La-] between MICE and HIIE.
Legend: a = Tukey’s post-hoc test with p < 0.05 compared to rest;
b = Tukey’s post-hoc test with p < 0.05 compared to immediately post-exercise;
c = Tukey’s post-hoc test with p < 0.05 compared to post 3 min;
d = Tukey’s post-hoc test with p < 0.05 compared to post 5 min;
e = Tukey’s post-hoc test with p < 0.05 compared to post 7 min;
*= statistically significant difference between MICE and HIIE.
Figure 2
Difference on oxygen uptake (VO2relative) between MICE and HIIE.
Legend: a = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to rest;
b = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to five minutes of exercise;
c = Tukey’s post-hoc test with compared to 10 min of exercise;
d = Tukey’s post-hoc test with compared to 15 min of exercise;
e = Tukey’s post-hoc test with compared to 20 min of exercise;
f = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 25 min of exercise;
g = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 30 min of exercise;
* = statistically significant difference between MICE and HIIE; p < 0.05
Figure 3
Difference on the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate
(HR) between MICE and HIIE.
Legend: For RPE: a = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to five min of exercise;
b = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 10 min of exercise;
c = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 15 min of exercise;
d = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 20 min of exercise. For HR:
a = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to rest;
b = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to five min of exercise;
c = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 10 min of exercise;
d = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 15 min of exercise;
e = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 20 min of exercise;
f = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 25 min of exercise;
g = Tukey’s post-hoc test compared to 30 min of exercise;
* = statistically significant difference between MICE and HIIE; p < 0.05
anaerobic metabolism during the HIIE in al., 2013). Thus, the assumption that training
comparison with the MICE. The present study consisting of HIIE is better than MICE to improve
revealed that even though the HR was higher physiological responses must be considered with
during HIIE, the VO2 response was not (Figure 2). caution since MICE intensity is
However, taking into account the aerobic usually too low to induce high adaptations. Other
contribution during the exercise, HIIE presented a studies may want to verify whether at or above
greater amount of consumed oxygen which may the anaerobic threshold moderate intensity
have occurred due to the longer exercise time training induces similar adaptations to high
(Table 2). Thus, since VO2 consumption intensity interval training.
(perceptual in relation to VO2max) during exercise The analysis of the recovery period has also
training is one important index to characterize the been proposed to be important regarding the
aerobic training stimulus (Buchheit and Laursen, effects of different types of training on physical
2013; Zagatto et al., 2011), the HIIE was more fitness (Skelly et al., 2014; Williams et al., 2013).
effective in stimulating the aerobic metabolism Skelly et al. (2014) did not observe any difference
compared with the MICE. Nevertheless, the in EPOC after HIIE and MICE in physically active
exercise time must be considered. When the HIIE subjects, however, MICE intensity was too low to
exercise time is matched for the MICE, the VO2 induce higher EPOC and HIIE presented low
integral of HIIE is significantly lower than MICE volume, hampering the comparison with the
(68.07 ± 6.19 L and 83.66 ± 11.28 L, respectively; p present study. Tucker et al. (2016) compared HIIE
= 0.0001), indicating that for isotime exercise, in (four bouts of 4 min intervals at 95% of the peak
continuous 5 km running at 70% of sVO2max the heart rate, with 3 min of active recovery), MICE
cumulative O2 cost is higher than in HIIE (with (30 min at 80% of HRpeak) and sprint interval
the same exercise session time); however, we exercise (SIE) (six 30 s Wingate sprints, separated
cannot assume whether after exercise, energy by 4 min of recovery periods) in active men and
expenditure (i.e. EPOC) would be different or not. although SIE elicited greater EPOC, no differences
Therefore, future studies should investigate were registered in total energy expenditure
whether it is more important to exercise at high compared to HIIE and MICE. This suggests that
intensity or to maintain a longer time of exercise this is unlikely to be the mechanism contributor to
at moderate intensity. body composition changes. In our study, EPOC
Several studies have compared the effects following HIIE was significantly higher compared
of high and moderate intensity training on to MICE, however, this difference was small and
physical fitness; however, various intensities have the result could have been similar if the exercise
been used to compare training exercises (Gillen et duration was the same. This is yet to be
al., 2013; Skelly et al., 2014; Trapp et al., 2008; determined.
Williams et al., 2013). In relation to moderate In addition to exercise volume (external
training, high intensity training has been load), and intensity (i.e., RPE, [La-], or HR;
proposed to present higher or similar physical (internal load)), their product (i.e., training
fitness adaptations (Buchheit and Laursen, 2013; impulse – TRIMP) must also be taken into account
Gibala et al., 2006; Wisløff et al., 2007), however, (Borresen and Lambert, 2008a; Borresen and
intensity used in the MICE may also influence the Lambert, 2008b; Foster et al., 2011; Manzi et al.,
results. Aiming to compare HIIE and MICE, 2009; Minganti et al., 2011). Although some
Skelly et al. (2014) used 77% and 33% of peak studies have equalized exercise energy
power output, respectively, which is considerably expenditure (Gibala et al., 2012), the training
lower than the intensity used in the present study impulse (product between the external and
(100% and 70% of sVO2max). While for our subjects, internal load) was not considered when
70% of sVO2max could have been at or slightly comparing exercise training. Thus, it is still
above the anaerobic threshold and the mean important to determine (i) whether physiological
exercise HR was 86.20 ± 2.76% of the maximal HR, differences exist between HIIE and MICE when
much higher than other moderate intensity the training impulse is equalized and (ii) whether
training protocols (Burgomaster et al., 2008; a passive resting period may have to be taken into
Gibala et al., 2012; Sperlich et al., 2011; Williams et account when calculating the training impulse.
Recent research suggests that HIIE is a HIIE presented greater aerobic contribution
time-efficient exercise strategy (Gillen and Gibala, (Table 3), thus, total session duration may have
2014) when compared to MICE. These results are influenced our results(MICE: 29.77 ± 2.46 minutes;
in agreement with our findings, however, it HIIE: 41.14 ± 3.56 minutes). Furthermore, when
should be noted that longer exercise duration was the exercise time was relativized, no difference
required to accomplish the same distance of existed in the aerobic
running with HIIE compared to MICE. This is a contribution between HIIE and MICE. After
possible limitation when applying the results of exercise cessation, EPOC was higher in HIIE, but
this study to practice, as the effective training the differences were quantitatively small. Thus,
duration for HIIE was approximately 28% longer equalizing the training impulse or time of exercise
when including the recovery intervals. Moreover, could induce different results. The practical
the energy expenditure was 13% higher in HIIE application of these findings can be used to help
than MICE to complete the same distance. design physical training programs for all
In conclusion, HIIE was more effective at populations, due to the easily accessible benefits
modifying the HR and RPE. Oxygen uptake was from proper implementation.
higher only at the end of exercise, even though
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP,
Brazil) under Grant nº 2013/25310-2.
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