Effects of Increased Load of Low- Versus High-Intensity Endurance Training on Performance and Physiological Adaptations in Endurance Athletes

Author(s):  
Rune K. Talsnes ◽  
Roland van den Tillaar ◽  
Øyvind Sandbakk

Purpose: To compare the effects of increased load of low- versus high-intensity endurance training on performance and physiological adaptations in well-trained endurance athletes. Methods: Following an 8-week preintervention period, 51 (36 men and 15 women) junior cross-country skiers and biathletes were randomly allocated into a low-intensity (LIG, n = 26) or high-intensity training group (HIG, n = 25) for an 8-week intervention period, load balanced using the overall training impulse score. Both groups performed an uphill running time trial and were assessed for laboratory performance and physiological profiling in treadmill running and roller-ski skating preintervention and postintervention. Results: Preintervention to postintervention changes in running time trial did not differ between groups (P = .44), with significant improvements in HIG (−2.3% [3.2%], P = .01) but not in LIG (−1.5% [2.9%], P = .20). There were no differences between groups in peak speed changes when incremental running and roller-ski skating to exhaustion (P = .30 and P = .20, respectively), with both modes being significantly improved in HIG (2.2% [3.1%] and 2.5% [3.4%], both P < .01) and in roller-ski skating for LIG (1.5% [2.4%], P < .01). There was a between-group difference in running maximal oxygen uptake changes (P = .04), tending to improve in HIG (3.0% [6.4%], P = .09) but not in LIG (−0.7% [4.6%], P = .25). Changes in roller-ski skating peak oxygen uptake differed between groups (P = .02), with significant improvements in HIG (3.6% [5.4%], P = .01) but not in LIG (−0.1% [0.17%], P = .62). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in performance adaptations between increased load of low- versus high-intensity training in well-trained endurance athletes, although both methods improved performance. However, increased load of high-intensity training elicited better maximal oxygen uptake adaptations compared to increased load of low-intensity training.

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Carnes ◽  
Sara E. Mahoney

Purpose: This study longitudinally compared changes in running performance (5-km time trial) and fitness (maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max] and body composition [BC]) between polarized training and CrossFit Endurance (CFE) in recreational runners. Methods: Participants (N = 21) completed 12 wk of CFE or polarized endurance training (POL). Both groups trained 5 d·wk−1. POL ran 5 d·wk−1, whereas CFE ran 3 d·wk−1 and performed CrossFit 3 d·wk−1 (run + CrossFit 1 d·wk−1). Intensity was classified as low, moderate, or high (zone 1, 2, or 3) according to ventilatory thresholds. POL was prescribed greater volume (295 [67] min·wk−1), distributed as 85%/5%/10% in Z1/Z2/Z3. CFE emphasized a lower volume (110 [18] min·wk−1) distribution of 48%/8%/44%. Results: POL ran 283 (75.9) min·wk−1 and 47.3 (11.6) km·wk−1, both exceeding the 117 (32.2) min·wk−1 and 19.3 (7.17) km·wk−1 in CFE (P < .001). The POL distribution (74%/11%/15%) had greater total and percentage Z1 (P < .001) than CFE (46%/15%/39%), which featured higher percentage Z3 (P < .001). Time trial improved −93.8 (40.4) s (−6.21% [2.16%]) in POL (P < .001) and −84.2 (65.7) s (−5.49% [3.56%]) in CFE (P = .001). BC improved by −2.45% (2.59%) fat in POL (P = .02) and −2.62% (2.53%) in CFE (P = .04). The magnitude of improvement was not different between groups for time trial (P = .79) or BC (P = .88). Both groups increased VO2max (P ≤ .01), but with larger magnitude (P = .04, d = 0.85) in POL (4.3 [3.6] mL·kg·min−1) than CFE (1.78 [1.9] mL·kg·min−1). Conclusions: Recreational runners achieved similar improvement in 5-km performance and BC through polarized training or CFE, but POL yielded a greater increase in VO2max. Extrapolation to longer distances requires additional research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1151-1156
Author(s):  
Jan G. Bourgois ◽  
Gil Bourgois ◽  
Jan Boone

Training-intensity distribution (TID), or the intensity of training and its distribution over time, has been considered an important determinant of the outcome of a training program in elite endurance athletes. The polarized and pyramidal TID, both characterized by a high amount of low-intensity training (below the first lactate or ventilatory threshold), but with different contributions of threshold training (between the first and second lactate or ventilatory threshold) and high-intensity training (above the second lactate or ventilatory threshold), have been reported most frequently in elite endurance athletes. However, the choice between these 2 TIDs is not straightforward. This article describes the historical, evolutionary, and physiological perspectives of the success of the polarized and pyramidal TID and proposes determinants that should be taken into account when choosing the most appropriate TID.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 194-199
Author(s):  
Mahdi Ghafari ◽  
Ebrahim Banitalebi ◽  
Mohamad Faramarzi

Background and aims: Intermuscular lipolysis disorder plays an important role in insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus and perilipin PLIN5 and PLIN3 are the key proteins in regulating muscle cellular lipolysis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the expression of PLIN3 and PLIN5 protein following endurance training in streptozotocin (STZ) rats. Methods: A number of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into low endurance training group (n = 8), high-intensity training group (n = 8), and control group (n = 8). Diabetes was induced in every rat by STZ injection. Three days after injection, the blood samples were taken from the cut tip of the tails of the mice and animals with blood glucose greater than 300 mg/dL were considered diabetic. The training program included eight weeks of aerobic training at different intensities. Training in high- and low-intensity groups included 22-25 and 5-8 m/min of training. Finally, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation was used to determine the significance of the differences between variables, followed by utilizing Tukey’s post-hoc test for significance. Results: The comparison between the groups by ANOVA showed significant differences in PLIN3 (P=0.0006) and PLIN5 (P=0.012). The results of Tukey post hoc test also demonstrated a statistical difference between the mean values of diabetic control group and high-intensity endurance group regarding PLIN3 (P=0.01) and PLIN5 (P=0.009), but no significant increase was observed in the lowintensity exercise group as compared to the control group (PLIN3, P=0.067 & PLIN5, P=0.44). As regards insulin resistance, there was a significant difference among the three groups (P=0.0001). Eventually, the result of the correlation between PLIN3 and PLIN5 showed similar enhancement by increasing the intensity (P=0.0026). Conclusion: According to research results, high-intensity endurance training increased the expression of PLIN3 and PLIN5 in diabetic specimens and PLIN3 and PLIN5 followed a similar increase pattern in high-intensity training


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (18) ◽  
pp. 2001-2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders W Bjerring ◽  
Hege EW Landgraff ◽  
Thomas M Stokke ◽  
Klaus Murbræch ◽  
Svein Leirstein ◽  
...  

Background Athlete's heart is a term used to describe physiological changes in the hearts of athletes, but its early development has not been described in longitudinal studies. This study aims to improve our understanding of the effects of endurance training on the developing heart. Methods Cardiac morphology and function in 48 cross-country skiers were assessed at age 12 years (12.1 ± 0.2 years) and then again at age 15 years (15.3 ± 0.3 years). Echocardiography was performed in all subjects including two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain echocardiography and three-dimensional echocardiography. All participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing at both ages 12 and 15 years to assess maximal oxygen uptake and exercise capacity. Results Thirty-one (65%) were still active endurance athletes at age 15 years and 17 (35%) were not. The active endurance athletes had greater indexed maximal oxygen uptake (62 ± 8 vs. 57 ± 6 mL/kg/min, P < 0.05) at follow-up. There were no differences in cardiac morphology at baseline. At follow-up the active endurance athletes had greater three-dimensional indexed left ventricular end-diastolic (84 ± 11 mL/m2 vs. 79 ± 10 mL/m2, P < 0.05) and end-systolic volumes (36 ± 6 mL/m2 vs. 32 ± 3 mL/m2, P < 0.05). Relative wall thickness fell in the active endurance athletes, but not in those who had quit (–0.05 ΔmL/m2 vs. 0.00 mL/m2, P = 0.01). Four active endurance athletes had relative wall thickness above the upper reference values at baseline; all had normalised at follow-up. Conclusion After an initial concentric remodelling in the pre-adolescent athletes, those who continued their endurance training developed eccentric changes with chamber dilatation and little change in wall thickness. Those who ceased endurance training maintained a comparable wall thickness, but did not develop chamber dilatation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 976-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Jakeman ◽  
Simon Adamson ◽  
John Babraj

High-intensity training (HIT) involving 30-s sprints is an effective training regimen to improve aerobic performance. We tested whether 6-s HITs can improve aerobic performance in triathletes. Six subelite triathletes (age, 40 ± 9 years; weight, 86 ± 11 kg; body mass index, 26 ± 3 kg·m–2) took part in cycle HIT and 6 endurance-trained subelite athletes (age, 36 ± 9 years; weight, 82 ± 11 kg; BMI, 26 ± 3 kg·m–2) maintained their normal training routine. Before and after 2 weeks of HIT, involving 10 × 6-s sprints or normal activity, participants performed a self-paced 10-km time trial and a time to exhaustion test on a cycle ergometer. Finger prick blood samples were taken throughout the time to exhaustion test to determine blood lactate concentration. Two weeks of HIT resulted in a 10% decrease in self-paced 10-km time trial (p = 0.03) but no significant change in time to exhaustion. The time taken to reach onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA, defined as the point where blood lactate reaches 4 mmol·L–1) was significantly increased following 2 weeks of HIT (p = 0.003). The change in time trial performance was correlated to the change in time taken to reach OBLA (R2 = 0.63; p = 0.001). We concluded that a very short duration HIT is a very effective training regimen to improve aerobic performance in subelite triathletes and this is associated with a delay in blood lactate build-up.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 957-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Webster ◽  
Jeroen Swart ◽  
Timothy D. Noakes ◽  
James A. Smith

This case study documents the performance of an elite-level, exceptionally well-fat-adapted endurance athlete as he reintroduced carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion during high-intensity training. He had followed a strict low-CHO high-fat (LCHF) diet for 2 y, during which he ate approximately 80 g of CHO per day and trained and raced while ingesting only water. While following this diet, he earned numerous podium finishes in triathlons of various distances. However, he approached the authors to test whether CHO supplementation during exercise would further increase his high-intensity performance without affecting his fat adaptation. This 7-wk n = 1 investigation included a 4-wk habitual LCHF diet phase during which he drank only water during training and performance trials and a 3-wk habitual diet plus CHO ingestion phase (LCHF + CHO) during which he followed his usual LCHF diet but ingested 60 g/h CHO during 8 high-intensity training sessions and performance trials. After each phase, rates of fat oxidation and 30-s sprint, 4-min sprint, 20-km time trial (TT), and 100-km TT performances were measured. Compared with LCHF, 20-km TT time improved by 2.8% after LCHF + CHO, which would be a large difference in competition. There was no change in 30-s sprint power, a small improvement in 4-min sprint power (1.6%), and a small reduction in 100-km TT time (1.1%). The authors conclude that CHO ingestion during exercise was likely beneficial for this fat-adapted athlete during high-intensity endurance-type exercise (4–30 min) but likely did not benefit his short-sprint or prolonged endurance performance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 11-15
Author(s):  
Tiberiu Puta ◽  
Alexandra Mihaela Stănilă ◽  
Remus Datcu

AbstractIntroduction: The blood flow restriction method is a training method that is based on the partial occlusion of circulation during a workout. This technique combines low-intensity exercise with the occlusion of the bloodstream which produces results similar to high-intensity training.Aim: We aimed to identify the areas in which this method is applicable, its potential benefits and effects, recommendations regarding the rules of use for maximal effects (dosage, intensity, etc.), and also possible contraindications or warnings regarding the use of this method.Methods: We have analyzed a number of 20 articles on this topic from the field literature of the last 10 years, using ”google academic” as a search engine.Results: After this study we concluded that blood flow restriction is a method with wide applicability in the field of sports training, but also in the recovery process; however, it requires attention in choosing the necessary equipment. For healthy individuals, best training adaptations occur when combining low-load blood flow restriction resistance exercise with traditional high-load resistance exercise.Conclusion: Low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction is as effective as high-intensity training (for strength and muscle mass gains), but only the high-intensity protocol promotes significant hypotensive responses after exercise.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirstie Jodie Turner ◽  
David Bruce Pyne ◽  
Julien D. Périard ◽  
Anthony John Rice

Purpose: The effects of two different high-intensity training methods on 2,000 m rowing ergometer performance were examined in a feasibility study of 24 national-level rowers aged 18–27 years (17 males, 2,000 m ergometer time trial 6:21.7 ± 0:14.6 (min:s) and seven females, 2,000 m ergometer 7:20.3 ± 0:12.1. Habitual training for all participants was ~12–16 h per week).Methods: 16 high-intensity ergometer sessions were completed across two 3-week periods. Participants were allocated into two groups according to baseline 2,000 m time. High-intensity interval session-sprint-interval session (HIIT-SIT) completed eight HIIT (8 × 2.5 min intervals; 95% of 2,000 m wattage) followed by eight SIT (three sets of 7 × 30 s intervals; maximum effort). SIT-HIIT completed eight SIT sessions followed by eight HIIT sessions. Both a 2,000-m time trial and a progressive incremental test finishing with 4 min “all-out” performance were completed before and after each 3-week phase.Results: Both groups showed similar improvements in 2,000 m time and 4 min “all-out” distance after the first 3 weeks (2,000 m time: HIIT-SIT: −2.0 ± 0.6%, mean ± 90% CL, p = 0.01; SIT-HIIT: −1.5 ± 0.3%, p = 0.01) with no significant difference between groups. HIIT-SIT demonstrated the greatest improvements in submaximal heart rate (HR) during the progressive incremental test with eight sessions of HIIT showing a greater reduction in submaximal HR than eight sessions of SIT. The net improvement of 16 high-intensity sessions on 2,000 m time was −2.5% for HIIT-SIT (−10.6 ± 3.9 s, p = 0.01) and − 2.2% for SIT-HIIT (−9.0 ± 5.7 s, p = 0.01) and for 4 min “all-out” performance was 3.1% for HIIT-SIT (36 ± 25 m, p = 0.01) and 2.8% for SIT-HIIT (33 ± 27 m, p = 0.01).Conclusion: Eight sessions of high-intensity training can improve 2,000 m ergometer rowing performance in national-level rowers, with a further eight sessions producing minimal additional improvement. The method of high-intensity training appears less important than the dose.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 343-346
Author(s):  
Adenilson Targino de Araújo Júnior ◽  
Maria do Socorro Cirilo-Sousa ◽  
Gabriel Rodrigues Neto ◽  
Rodrigo Poderoso ◽  
Geraldo Veloso Neto ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: The literature has shown that a gap is identified regarding the acute effects of blood flow restriction training on aerobic variables. Objective: to analyze oxygen consumption (VO2) during and after two resistance training sessions: traditional high intensity and low intensity with blood flow restriction. Methods: After one-repetition maximum tests, eight male participants (25.7±3 years) completed the two experimental protocols, separated by 72 hours, in a randomized order: a) high intensity training at 80% of 1RM (HIRE) and b) low intensity training at 20% of 1RM combined with blood flow restriction (LIRE + BFR). Three sets of four exercises (bench press, squat, barbell bent-over row and deadlift) were performed. Oxygen consumption and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption were measured. Results: the data showed statistically significant differences between the traditional high intensity training and low intensity training with blood flow restriction, with higher values for traditional training sessions, except for the last five minutes of the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. Oxygen consumption measured during training was higher (p = 0.001) for the HIRE (20.32 ± 1.46 mL·kg-1·min-1) compared to the LIRE + BFR (15.65 ± 1.14 mL·kg-1·min-1). Conclusion: Oxygen uptakes rates during and after the exercise sessions were higher for the high intensity training methodology. However, when taking into account the volume of training provided by both methods, these differences were attenuated. Level of Evidence III - Non-consecutive studies, or studies without consistently applied reference stand.


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