The Potential of Decreasing High-Intensity Interval Duration


Every coin has two sides – what is recovering in HIIT?
VO2max is defined as the highest rate at which oxygen can be absorbed and utilized by the body during severe exercise (Hill and Lupton 1923). It represents one of the most important parameters for the assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness and one of the determining factors for endurance performance. Moreover, the purpose of many training protocols is to improve VO2max working at intensities close to it (Midgley and Mc Naughton 2006). Such high intensities can be maintained for only up to a few minutes and are particularly stressful for the body. This is why HIIT workouts are a great alternative. With work periods around VO2max and recovery periods far below that level, they allow a greater total workout time close to VO2max (recognised as time above 90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} of VO2max; T90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} VO2max) compared to continuous training (Midgley and Mc Naughton 2006; Buchheit and Laursen 2013).

Speaking about HIIT training, work and recovery phases can be set with the help of two fundamental parameters: critical velocity (CV) and D’ (phenomenological equivalents to critical power (CP) and W’). Thus, CV defines the maximal exercise intensity at which a metabolic steady state can be attained during running exercise (Jones et al. 2019; Nixon et al. 2021). D’, on the other hand, is better defined as a work capacity (running distance) above CV (Fig. 1). Interestingly, the greater the amount of D’ is used the faster it recovers. This is because the reconstitution of D’ (or W’) follows a bi-exponential trajectory (Fig. 2), with the initial fast component (?FC) followed by a “sluggish” slow component (?SC; Caen et al. 2021; Chorley et al. 2021).

Figure 1. Critical velocity/power (CV/CP) and distance/work capacity (D’/W’). CP delimits the severe (metabolically unstable domain). W’ concept is illustrated using the boxes numbered 1 through 4, which all show different usages of W’ across varying intensity/duration combinations in the severe domain. Despite the different intensity/duration combinations, all W’ boxes display the same total finite area. VT1: ventilatory threshold 1 (aerobic threshold). Adapted from Jones et al. 2010.

Hence, a HIIT protocol that appreciates the kinetics of W’ recovery can allow more time at intensities close to VO2max to be achieved during a training session (Ferguson et al. 2010; Skiba et al. 2014; Caen et al. 2019; Sreedhara et al. 2020; do Nascimento Salvador et al. 2021; Lievens et al. 2021).

  Figure 2. The W’ (or D’) reconstitution (recovery) model. With subsequent high-intensity efforts and recoveries, W’ appears to recover less and less. This occurrence is due to the progressively decreasing slope of the Slow Component (SC). However, Fast Component (FC) appears to be unchanged as HIIT ensues. Adapted from Chorley et al. 2021.

Better sooner than later – the rationale behind HIDIT

Given the reconstitution behaviour of D’ and knowing that starting with long (3-5 minutes) intervals causes a higher rise of VO2 compared to short (< 60 seconds) intervals (Millet et al. 2003; Jones et al. 2008), we thought that a decreasing high-intensity interval training protocol (HIDIT; Fig. 3) could exploit those advantages to allow a longer total workout time close to VO2max compared to classic short and long HIIT formats.

Practically speaking, HIDIT starts with long intervals that allow a faster rise of VO2, known as the “priming effect” (Fig. 4; Burnley et al. 2002; Jones et al. 2008) and more extensive use of D’ at the beginning of the high-intensity set. The successive decreasing intervals rely more on the reconstitution of D’ itself since efficient management of this work capacity is the key component to maintaining a near-maximal VO2 for longer. 

 Figure 3. HIDIT protocol used in the current study. 

From our previous work with cyclists (Vaccari et al. 2020), we found that HIDIT had longer times above 90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} of VO2max (T90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829}VO2max) than the short and long HIIT protocols. This time we wanted to test this hypothesis in runners.

Moreover, we wanted to see if postponing the recovery period during three trials with a single recovery phase would prolong the time to exhaustion at the end of the trial. That is, would more extensive use of D’ in the first bout promote faster D’ reconstitution ahead of the second bout?

 Figure 4. VO2 response of an athlete to a first and second bout of heavy cycling exercise. VO2 max is achieved 2 min 10 s faster on the second bout due to increased motor unit recruitment. Adapted from Burnley et al. 2002.

 

 

Nine well-trained runners completed four separate tests (Fig. 5): an incremental test, velocity-duration trials, D’ reconstitution trials, and HIIT test. 

Every test was conducted on a running track, and the running pace was set by an operator with the help of markers placed every 20 meters and a device emitting an acoustic signal at the time at which the subject should cover the distance between the markers to match the individually prescribed pace. In other words, each “beep” corresponded to the time in which 20 m should have been covered if one ran at the predetermined speed (e.g., at 2.7 m/s a beep every 7.4 s). The test ended when the runner failed to cover two consecutive markers just before or at the sound of the signal.

The maximal running step-incremental test was needed to measure VO2max and maximal aerobic speed (vVO2max).  Knowing these parameters, we made participants run three to five exhaustive trials at different speeds (between 90 and 110{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} of vVO2max) to determine CV and D’ (Poole et al. 2016; Jones and Vanhatalo 2017; Jones et al. 2019). All the tests had to last a minimum of ~ 2 and a maximum of ~ 15 min to be considered valid (Jones and Vanhatalo 2017). Then, the CV and D’ were calculated using two methods: The distance-time method and the 1/time method (Clarke and Skiba 2013).

Subsequently, to investigate the reconstitution characteristics of D’, the participants performed three trials comprised of one high-intensity bout followed by 2 minutes of active recovery followed by a second high-intensity bout continued until exhaustion. The first bout was used to simulate three different involvement situations of D’: large usage (3 minutes), little usage (30 seconds), and complete usage (run to exhaustion). The running speed was set to 120{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} of the CV to a velocity supposed that would lead to exhaustion after roughly 6 minutes (Jones et al. 2010). The recovery phase served to the reconstitution of D’, speed was set at 66{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} of the CV. The second high-intensity bout’s purpose was to consume every bit of D’ reconstituted during the recovery phase. Hence, the longer the second bout was, the more D’ must have been reconstituted. 

Finally, we tested the HIIT protocol which used the same intensities as the D’ reconstitution trials. In this case, we tested three different protocols:

  • Long intervals (LIHIIT): 3 min at high intensity and 2 min at low intensity repeated until volitional exhaustion of the subject (Fig. 5F).

  • High-intensity decremental interval training (HIDIT): 3 min at high intensity and 2 min at low; 2 min at high and 1 min and 20 s at low; 1 min at high and 40 s at low; 45 s at high and 30 s at low; and finally, 30 s at high and 20 s at low intensity repeated until volitional exhaustion of the subject (Fig. 3; Fig. 5G).

  • Short intervals (SIHIIT): 30 s at high intensity and 20 s at low intensity until volitional exhaustion of the subject (Fig. 5H)

The purpose was to measure the time spent above 90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} of VO2max for every HIIT protocol.

 


 Figure 5. Study design. Incremental test (A) and velocity-duration trials (B) (velocity-duration trials’ intensities were used for the following sessions). Three test trials (C, D, and E) were then performed to investigate the reconstitution of D’ after three different durations of exercise at 120{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} CV (3 min, 30 s, and exhaustion). The three HIIT protocols: LIHIIT, HIDIT, and SIHIIT (F, G, and H) were investigated for T90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829}VO2max and Tlim.

Following all of the exercise tests we came away with two main findings.

First, the total time spent at high intensity during the reconstitution D’ trials was on average 308 ± 44 s, 388 ± 48 s, and 464 ± 67 s for the 30 seconds, 3 minutes, and exhaustion bout, respectively, which was significantly different between each trial (Fig. 6). Reflecting the bi-exponential characteristics of D’ (W’) reconstitution. That is, the larger the D’ depletion is, the faster it is recovered.  

In our study, we observed that the reconstitution of D’ benefited from a postponed recovery interval and this allowed a longer second bout of high-intensity exercise. Moreover, HIDIT has proven to allow longer times above 90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829}VO2max (T90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829}VO2max) and Tlim compared to LIHIIT and SIHIIT, despite having the same mean velocity, duration, and ratio of the high-to-low intensity of the intervals.

The exponential behaviour of W’ (the cycling equivalent of D’) was seen in several studies performed on a cycle ergometer (Ferguson et al. 2010; Skiba et al. 2014; Caen et al. 2019; Sreedhara et al. 2020; do Nascimento Salvador et al. 2021; Lievens et al. 2021; Caen et al. 2021; Chorley et al. 2021). With our work, we investigated such behaviour in running performance. 

We previously observed that in cyclists HIDIT can increase the time above 90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829}VO2max compared to HIIT protocols with short or long intervals (Vaccari et al. 2020). This effect could be attributed to the priming effect of longer intervals at the start combined with the more efficient usage and reconstitution rate of D’. However, the results of the cycling study were slightly different since HIDIT did not significantly increase Tlim. Contrastingly, in this year’s study, we observed that both T90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829}VO2max and Tlim are extended in a HIDIT running session. This disparity could be explained by the more profound development of VO2 slow component and hence fatigue during high-intensity cycling compared to running (Carter et al. 2000). 

In adult active males, training protocols starting with long intervals followed by short intervals could be useful to accumulate time close to VO2max and consequently improve it.

An important aspect was that HIDIT would not seem physiologically more fatiguing than other classical protocols, so the benefits should not be accompanied by more fatigue. Thus, it could be used in a general preparation phase in the same way as traditional HIIT protocols and could be another tool in the coaches’ toolbox to promote stimuli variation.

 I am a research fellow at the University of Udine, working on a project promoting physical exercise as a tool for preventing and treating chronic diseases. I never considered myself as an athlete. During my childhood and adolescence, I tried a lot of sports but could not find the right one for me. Only during my mid-20s, I found rock climbing, which happened to be a love at “first crimp”. Being a very curious person, I developed a passion for training and improving athletic performance. I decided to go to the university to study Exercise and Sports Science. I wanted to better understand human movement and try to find answers to my questions (Fool! I ended up with more questions than answers). I graduated from the University of Udine in Sports Science with a master’s thesis on the effect of different HIIT training protocols on running performance. Even though I am not a runner, my curious nature spurred a great passion and dedication to this project.  

Buchheit, M., & Laursen, P. B. (2013). High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle: Part I: cardiopulmonary emphasis. Sports Medicine43(5), 313–338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0029-x 

Burnley, M., Doust, J. H., Ball, D., & Jones, A. M. (2002). Effects of prior heavy exercise on VO2 kinetics during  heavy exercise are related to changes in muscle activity. Journal of Applied Physiology93(1), 167–174. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01217.2001 

Caen, K., Bourgois, G., Dauwe, C., Blancquaert, L., Vermeire, K., Lievens, E., Van Dorpe, J., Derave, W., Bourgois, J. G., Pringels, L., & Boone, J. (2021). W? recovery kinetics after exhaustion: A two-phase exponential process influenced by aerobic fitness. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise53(9), 1911–1921. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002673 

Caen, K., Bourgois, J. G., Bourgois, G., Van der Stede, T., Vermeire, K., & Boone, J. (2019). The reconstitution of W? depends on both work and recovery characteristics. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise51(8), 1745–1751. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000001968 

Carter, H., Jones, A. M., Barstow, T. J., Burnley, M., Williams, C. A., & Doust, J. H. (2000). Oxygen uptake kinetics in treadmill running and cycle ergometry: A comparison. Journal of Applied Physiology89(3), 899–907. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.2000.89.3.899 

Chorley, A., Bott, R. P., Marwood, S., & Lamb, K. L. (2021). Bi-exponential modelling of W?  reconstitution kinetics in trained cyclists. European Journal of Applied Physiology122(3), 677–689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04874-3 

Clarke, D. C., & Skiba, P. F. (2013). Rationale and resources for teaching the mathematical modeling of Athletic Training and performance. Advances in Physiology Education37(2), 134–152. https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00078.2011 

do Nascimento Salvador, P. C., de Lucas, R. D., Schäfer, L., Guglielmo, L. G., Grassi, B., & Denadai, B. S. (2021). Modeling the depletion and reconstitution of W?: Effects of prior exercise on cycling tolerance. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology285, 103590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2020.103590 

Ferguson, C., Rossiter, H. B., Whipp, B. J., Cathcart, A. J., Murgatroyd, S. R., & Ward, S. A. (2010). Effect of recovery duration from prior exhaustive exercise on the parameters of the power-duration relationship. Journal of Applied Physiology108(4), 866–874. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.91425.2008 

Hill, A. V., & Lupton, H. (1923). Muscular exercise, lactic acid, and the supply and utilization of oxygen. QJMos-16(62), 135–171. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/os-16.62.135 

Jones, A. M., Wilkerson, D. P., Vanhatalo, A., & Burnley, M. (2008). Influence of pacing strategy on O2 uptake and exercise tolerance. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports18(5), 615–626. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2007.00725.x 

Jones, Andrew M., & Vanhatalo, A. (2017). The ‘critical power’ concept: Applications to sports performance with a focus on intermittent high-intensity exercise. Sports Medicine47(S1), 65–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0688-0 

Jones, Andrew M., Burnley, M., Black, M. I., Poole, D. C., & Vanhatalo, A. (2019). The maximal metabolic steady state: Redefining the ‘Gold Standard.’ Physiological Reports7(10), e14098. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.14098 

Lievens, M., Caen, K., Bourgois, J. G., Vermeire, K., & Boone, J. (2021). W? reconstitution accelerates more with decreasing intensity in the heavy- versus the moderate-intensity domain. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise53(6), 1276–1284. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002574 

Midgley, A. W., & Mc Naughton, L. R. (2006). Time at or near VO2max during continuous and intermittent running. A review with special reference to considerations for the optimisation of training protocols to elicit the longest time at or near VO2max. J Sports Med Phys Fitness46(1), 1–14. 

Millet, G. P., Candau, R., Fattori, P., Bignet, F., & Varray, A. (2003). Responses to different intermittent runs at velocity associated with VO2max. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology28(3), 410–423. https://doi.org/10.1139/h03-030 

Nixon, R. J., Kranen, S. H., Vanhatalo, A., & Jones, A. M. (2021). Steady-state V?O2 above MLSS: Evidence that critical speed better represents maximal metabolic steady state in well-trained runners. European Journal of Applied Physiology121(11), 3133–3144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04780-8 

Poole, D. C., Burnley, M., Vanhatalo, A., Rossiter, H. B., & Jones, A. M. (2016). Critical power. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise48(11), 2320–2334. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000000939 

Skiba, P. F., Jackman, S., Clarke, D., Vanhatalo, A., & Jones, A. M. (2014). Effect of work and recovery durations on W? reconstitution during intermittent exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise46(7), 1433–1440. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000000226 

Sreedhara, V. S., Ashtiani, F., Mocko, G. M., Vahidi, A., & Hutchinson, R. E. (2020). Modeling the recovery of W? in the moderate to heavy exercise intensity domain. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise52(12), 2646–2654. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002425 

Vaccari, F., Giovanelli, N., & Lazzer, S. (2020). High-intensity decreasing interval training (HIDIT) increases time above 90{32c02201c4e0b91ecf15bfd3deecd875caca8b9615db42cfd45ce3d8de8d0829} VO2peak. European Journal of Applied Physiology120(11), 2397–2405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04463-w 



Source link