Astorino, T. A., Allen, R. P., Jurancich, M., Roberson, D. W., & Trost, E. (2010). Effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiovascular function and muscular force. Presentation 1027 at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; June 2-5.

This study examined the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiovascular function and muscular force. Men and women (N = 10) completed high-intensity interval training consisting of six days of training, including four to six Wingate tests per day, over three weeks. Four men and women served as controls. They were asked to maintain their exercise participation during the study. Resting/exercise heart rate and blood pressure were assessed pre- and post-training to evaluate cardiovascular function. Muscular force was evaluated pre- and post-training using isokinetic dynamometry.

There was a significant effect on resting heart rate from high-intensity interval training, although no effect on systolic or diastolic blood pressure was revealed compared to baseline. Exercise heart rate during submaximal exercise was lower by five to seven beats per minute with high-intensity interval training, and VO2max was increased by 6%. Peak, mean, and minimum power from the Wingate test were significantly higher (p < 0.05) post-training versus pre-training, and fatigue index was lower. At 60 deg/s, nonsignificant trends were revealed for higher peak and average knee flexion torque post-training versus pre-training.

Implication. High-intensity interval training significantly reduces resting/exercise heart rate and improves VO2max, power output, and fatigue resistance. High-intensity interval training does not seem to alter blood pressure or voluntary muscular force production during all-out knee flexion and extension exercise.

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