Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Acute effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training sessions on cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy young men

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to compare the energy expenditure (EE) during and after two treadmill protocols, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate continuous training (CONT), in young adult men.

Methods

The sample was comprised by 26 physically active men aged between 18 and 35 years engaged in aerobic training programs. They were divided into two groups: HIIT (n = 14) which performed eight 20 s bouts at 130% of the velocity associated with the maximal oxygen consumption on a treadmill with 10 s of passive rest, or CONT (n = 12) which performed 30 min running on a treadmill at a submaximal velocity equivalent to 90–95% of the heart rate associated with the anaerobic threshold. Data related to oxygen consumption (\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)) and EE were measured during the protocols and the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) was calculated for both sessions.

Results

No difference was found between groups for mean \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) (HIIT: 2.84 ± 0.46 L min−1; CONT: 2.72 ± 0.43 L min−1) and EE per minute (HIIT: 14.36 ± 2.34 kcal min−1; CONT: 13.21 ± 2.08 kcal min−1) during protocols. Regarding total EE during session, CONT resulted in higher values compared to HIIT (390.45 ± 65.15; 55.20 ± 9.33 kcal, respectively). However, post-exercise EE and EPOC values were higher after HIIT (69.31 ± 10.88; 26.27 ± 2.28 kcal, respectively) compared to CONT (55.99 ± 10.20; 13.43 ± 10.45 kcal, respectively).

Conclusion

These data suggest that supramaximal HIIT has a higher impact on EE and EPOC in the early phase of recovery when compared to CONT.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CE:

Caloric equivalent

CONT:

Moderate-intensity continuous training

EE:

Energy expenditure

EPOC:

Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HR:

Heart rate

HRmax :

Maximal heart rate

\({\text{i}}\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\hbox{max} }\) :

Intensity associated with maximal oxygen consumption

\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) :

Maximal oxygen consumption

VT2 :

Second ventilatory threshold

References

  • Alberton CL, Pinto SS, Antunes AH, Cadore EL, Finatto P, Tartaruga MP, Kruel LF (2014) Maximal and ventilatory thresholds cardiorespiratory responses to three water aerobic exercises compared with treadmill on land. J Strength Cond Res 28:1679–1687. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000000304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bahr R, Gronnerod O, Sejersted OM (1992) Effect of supramaximal exercise on excess postexercise O2 consumption. Med Sci Sports Exerc 24:66–71

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borsheim E, Bahr R (2003) Effect of exercise intensity, duration and mode on post-exercise oxygen consumption. Sports Med 33:1037–1060. doi:10.2165/00007256-200333140-00002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buchheit M, Laursen PB (2013) High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle: part I: cardiopulmonary emphasis. Sports Med 43:313–338. doi:10.1007/s40279-013-0029-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cunha FA, Midgley AW, McNaughton LR, Farinatti PT (2016) Effect of continuous and intermittent bouts of isocaloric cycling and running exercise on excess postexercise oxygen consumption. J Sci Med Sport 19:187–192. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2015.02.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson B, Straton S, Randall N (1996) Oxygen consumption during recovery from prolonged submaximal cycling below the anaerobic threshold. J Sports Med Phys Fit 36:77–84

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreti G (2014) Maximal oxygen consumption in healthy humans: theories and facts. Eur J Appl Physiol 114:2007–2036. doi:10.1007/s00421-014-2911-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey GC, Byrnes WC, Mazzeo RS (1993) Factors influencing excess postexercise oxygen consumption in trained and untrained women. Metabolism 42:822–828. doi:10.1016/0026-0495(93)90053-Q

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman RA, Navalta JW, Fedor EA, Kell HB, Lyons TS, Arnett SW, Schafer MA (2012) Repeated high-intensity Wingate cycle bouts influence markers of lymphocyte migration but not apoptosis. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 37:241–246. doi:10.1139/h11-156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaesser GA, Brooks GA (1984) Metabolic bases of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption: a review. Med Sci Sports Exerc 16:29–43. doi:10.1249/00005768-198401000-00008

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gore CJ, Withers RT (1990) The effect of exercise intensity and duration on the oxygen deficit and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. Eur J Appl Physiol 60:169–174. doi:10.1007/BF00713508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greer BK, Sirithienthad P, Moffatt RJ, Marcello RT, Panton LB (2015) EPOC comparison between isocaloric bouts of steady-state aerobic, intermittent aerobic, and resistance training. Res Q Exerc Sport 86:190–195. doi:10.1080/02701367.2014.999190

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg JM, Mullin JP, Nagle FJ (1980) Effect of work intensity and duration on recovery O2. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol 48:540–544

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hazell TJ, Olver TD, Hamilton CD, Lemon PW (2012) Two minutes of sprint-interval exercise elicits 24-hr oxygen consumption similar to that of 30 min of continuous endurance exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 22:276–283. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.22.4.276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howley ET, Bassett DR Jr, Welch HG (1995) Criteria for maximal oxygen uptake: review and commentary. Med Sci Sports Exerc 27:1292–1301

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson AS, Pollock ML (1978) Generalized equations for predicting body density of men. Br J Nutr 40:497–504

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen DJ, Bailey BW, LeCheminant JD, Hill JO, Mayo MS, Donnelly JE (2005) A comparison of three methods of analyzing post-exercise oxygen consumption. Int J Sports Med 26(1):34–38. doi:10.1055/s-2004-815819

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaForgia J, Withers RT, Shipp NJ, Gore CJ (1997) Comparison of energy expenditure elevations after submaximal and supramaximal running. J Appl Physiol 82:661–666

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaForgia J, Withers RT, Gore CJ (2006) Effects of exercise intensity and duration on the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. J Sports Sci 24:1247–1264. doi:10.1080/02640410600552064

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen I, Welde B, Martins C, Tjonna AE (2014) High- and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption in men with metabolic syndrome. Scand J Med Sci Sports 24:e174–e179. doi:10.1111/sms.12132

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malatesta D, Werlen C, Bulfaro S, Cheneviere X, Borrani F (2009) Effect of high-intensity interval exercise on lipid oxidation during postexercise recovery. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41:364–374. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181857edo

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuo T, Ohkawara K, Seino S, Shimojo N, Yamada S, Ohshima H, Tanaka K, Mukai C (2012a) Cardiorespiratory fitness level correlates inversely with excess post-exercise oxygen consumption after aerobic-type interval training. BMC Res Notes 5:646. doi:10.1186/1756-0500-5-646

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuo T, Ohkawara K, Seino S, Shimojo N, Yamada S, Ohshima H, Tanaka K, Mukai C (2012b) An exercise protocol designed to control energy expenditure for long-term space missions. Aviat Space Environ Med 83:783–789. doi:10.3357/ASEM.3298.2012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGarvey W, Jones R, Petersen S (2005) Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption following continuous and interval cycling exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 15:28–37. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.15.1.28

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe RS, Koumanov F, Ruffino JS, Stokes KA, Holman GD, Thompson D, Vollaard NB (2015) Physiological and molecular responses to an acute bout of reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT). Eur J Appl Physiol 115:2321–2334. doi:10.1007/s00421-015-3217-6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muniz-Pumares D, Pedlar C, Godfrey RJ, Glaister M (2016) Accumulated oxygen deficit during exercise to exhaustion determined at different supramaximal work-rates. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 24:1–17. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2015-0343

    Google Scholar 

  • Olmedo AC (2011) Post-exercise oxygen consumption after continuous and interval exercise on a treadmill. Apunts Educación Física y Deportes 104:21–27. doi:10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es(2011/2).104.02

    Google Scholar 

  • Poole DC, Jones AM (2012) Oxygen uptake kinetics. Compr Physiol 2:933–996. doi:10.1002/cphy.c100072

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhard U, Muller PH, Schmulling RM (1979) Determination of anaerobic threshold by the ventilation equivalent in normal individuals. Respiration 38(1):36–42. doi:10.1159/000194056

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siri WE (1993) Body composition from fluid spaces and density: analysis of methods. Nutrition 9:480–491

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skelly LE, Andrews PC, Gillen JB, Martin BJ, Percival ME, Gibala MJ (2014) High-intensity interval exercise induces 24-h energy expenditure similar to traditional endurance exercise despite reduced time commitment. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 39:845–848. doi:10.1139/apnm-2013-0562

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith J, Mc Naughton L (1993) The effects of intensity of exercise on excess postexercise oxygen consumption and energy expenditure in moderately trained men and women. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 67:420–425. doi:10.1007/BF00376458

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Townsend JR et al (2013) Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) following multiple effort sprint and moderate aerobic exercise. Kinesiology 45:16–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Tschakert G, Hofmann P (2013) High-intensity intermittent exercise: methodological and physiological aspects. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 8:600–610

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman K, Whipp BJ, Koyl SN, Beaver WL (1973) Anaerobic threshold and respiratory gas exchange during exercise. J Appl Physiol 35:236–243

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams CB, Zelt JG, Castellani LN, Little JP, Jung ME, Wright DC, Tschakovsky ME, Gurd BJ (2013) Changes in mechanisms proposed to mediate fat loss following an acute bout of high-intensity interval and endurance exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 38:1236–1244. doi:10.1139/apnm-2013-0101

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilmore JH, Parr RB, Ward P, Volak PA, Barstow TJ, Pipes TV, Grimditch G, Leslie P (1978) Energy cost of circuit weight training. Med Sci Sport Exerc 10:75–78

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolpern AE, Burgos DJ, Janot JM, Dalleck LC (2015) Is a threshold-based model a superior method to the relative percent concept for establishing individual exercise intensity? a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 7:16. doi:10.1186/s13102-015-0011-z

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all subjects who took part in the study for their genuine effort.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuromuscular Assessment Laboratory, Physical Education School, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Luís de Camões, 625, Três Vendas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

    Gustavo Zaccaria Schaun, Cristine Lima Alberton, Diego Oliveira Ribeiro & Stephanie Santana Pinto

Authors
  1. Gustavo Zaccaria Schaun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cristine Lima Alberton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Diego Oliveira Ribeiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephanie Santana Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gustavo Zaccaria Schaun.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors attest that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Communicated by Guido Ferretti.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schaun, G.Z., Alberton, C.L., Ribeiro, D.O. et al. Acute effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training sessions on cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy young men. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 1437–1444 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3636-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3636-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation