Interval training is a type of training exercise that involves a series of high-intensity workouts interspersed with rest or break periods. The high-intensity periods are typically at or close to anaerobic exercise, while the recovery periods involve activity of lower intensity.[1] Varying the intensity of effort exercises the heart muscle, providing a cardiovascular workout, improving aerobic capacity and permitting the person to exercise for longer and/or at more intense levels.[2]

Interval running provides a balanced mix of activity and rest, helping beginners gradually build their stamina and fitness without overexertion. Some interval running exercises include pyramid intervals, hill repeats, and staircase intervals.

Interval training can refer to the organization of any cardiovascular workout (e.g., cycling, running, rowing). It is prominent in training routines for many sports, but is particularly employed by runners.[2][3]

Variations

Fartlek training

Fartlek training, developed in Sweden, incorporates aspects of interval training with regular distance running. The name means 'speed play', and consists of distance running with "bursts of harder running at more irregular points, lengths and speeds compared with interval training".[4] For example, a fartlek training session might consist of a warm-up for 5–10 minutes; running at a steady, hard speed for 2 km; rapid walking for 5 minutes (recovery); sprints of 50–60 s interspersed with easy running; full-speed uphill for 200 m; rapid walking for one minute; repeating this routine until the time schedule has elapsed (a minimum of 45 minutes).[2] The development of aerobic and anaerobic capacities, and the adaptability of fartlek – to mimic running during specific sports – are characteristics it shares with other types of interval training.[2]

Sprint interval training

"Walk-back sprinting" is one example of interval training for runners, in which one sprints a short distance (anywhere from 100 to 800 metres), then walks back to the starting point (the recovery period), to repeat the sprint a certain number of times. To add challenge to the workout, each of these sprints may start at predetermined time intervals - e.g. 200 metre sprint, walk back, and sprint again, every 3 minutes. The time interval is intended to provide just enough recovery time. A runner will use this method of training mainly to add speed to their race and give them a finishing kick.

High-intensity interval training

High-intensity interval training attempts to decrease the overall volume of training by increasing the effort expended during the high-intensity intervals.[5] The acronym DIRT is sometimes used to denote the variables : D = Distance of each speed interval, I = Interval of recovery between speed intervals, R = Repetitions of speed intervals, and T = Time of each interval.[6]

Effectiveness

Aerobic interval training may benefit exercisers by allowing them to burn more calories in a shorter period, and by improving aerobic capability at a faster rate, when compared with continuous-intensity exercise.[7] In overweight and obese individuals, high intensity interval training employing four sets of four-minute intervals has been shown to improve VO2 max to a greater extent than isocaloric moderate continuous training, as well as to a greater extent than with a protocol using shorter, one-minute intervals.[7]

Some exercisers find interval training less monotonous than continuous-intensity exercise.[3] A number of studies confirm that in young and healthy individuals, sprint interval training appears to be as effective as continuous endurance training of moderate intensity, and has the benefit of requiring a reduced time commitment.[8] There is some evidence that interval training is also beneficial for older individuals and for those with coronary artery disease, but further study is required to acquire further evidence.[8][9]

Interval training can improve many aspects of human physiology. In athletes, it can enhance lactate threshold and improve VO2 max. Lactate threshold has been shown to be a significant factor in determining performance for long distance running events. An increase in an athlete's VO2 max allows them to intake more oxygen while exercising, enhancing the capability to sustain larger spans of aerobic effort.[10][11] Studies have also shown interval training can induce endurance-like adaptations, corresponding to increased capacity for whole body and skeletal muscle lipid oxidation and enhanced peripheral vascular structure and function.[12]

There is limited evidence that interval training assists in managing risk factors of many diseases, including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes.[5][13] It does this by improving insulin action and sensitivity. Generating higher insulin sensitivity results in lower levels of insulin needed to lower glucose levels in the blood. This helps individuals with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome control their glucose levels.[10][14][15] A combination of interval training[16] and continuous exercise increases cardiovascular fitness and raises HDL-cholesterol, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.[17][18] This type of training also decreases waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and the sum of skin folds on the body.[12]

This method of training may be more effective at inducing fat loss than simply training at a moderate intensity for the same duration. This is due to the metabolism-boosting effects of high intensity intervals.[19][20][21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ MacInnis, Martin J.; Gibala, Martin J. (7 December 2016). "Physiological adaptations to interval training and the role of exercise intensity". Journal of Physiology. 595 (9): 2915–2930. doi:10.1113/jp273196. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 5407969. PMID 27748956.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Atkins, William. "Interval Training". In Longe, Jacqueline (ed.). The Gale Encyclopedia of Fitness. pp. 475–477. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Rev up your workout with interval training". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. ↑ McArdle, William D.; Katch, Frank I.; Katch, Victor L. (2009) [1981]. "Training for Anaerobic and Aerobic Power". Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy, and Human Performance (7th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 483. ISBN 978-0-7817-9781-8. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  5. 1 2 Karlsen, Trine; Aamot, Inger-Lise; Haykowsky, Mark; Rognmo, Øivind (2017). "High Intensity Interval Training for Maximizing Health Outcomes". Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 60 (1): 67–77. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2017.03.006. hdl:11250/2485644. ISSN 0033-0620. PMID 28385556.
  6. ↑ Lifetime Physical Fitness and Wellness: A Personalized Program 1305887271 Wener W.K. Hoeger, Sharon A. Hoeger, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Baekkerud, Fredrik H.; Solberg, Frederic; Leinan, Ingeborg M.; Wisløff, Ulrik; Karlsen, Trine; Rognmo, Oivind (March 2016). "Comparison of Three Popular Exercise Modalities on VO2max in Overweight and Obese". Med Sci Sports Exerc. 48 (3): 491–498. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000000777. PMID 26440134. S2CID 25961394.
  8. 1 2 Gist, Nicholas H.; Fedewa, Michael V.; Dishman, Rod K.; Cureton, Kirk J. (16 October 2013). "Sprint Interval Training Effects on Aerobic Capacity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". Sports Medicine. 44 (2): 269–279. doi:10.1007/s40279-013-0115-0. PMID 24129784. S2CID 207493075.
  9. ↑ Cornish, Aimee K.; Broadbent, Suzanne; Cheema, Birinder S. (23 October 2010). "Interval training for patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review". European Journal of Applied Physiology. 111 (4): 579–589. doi:10.1007/s00421-010-1682-5. PMID 20972578. S2CID 25911112.
  10. 1 2 Giala MJ, Gillen JB, Percival ME (2014). "Physiological and Health-related Adaptations to Low-Volume Interval training: Influences of Nutrition and sex". Sports Medicine. 44 (2): 127–137. doi:10.1007/s40279-014-0259-6. PMC 4213388. PMID 25355187.
  11. ↑ Osawa Y, Azuma K, Tavata S, et al. (2014). "Effects of 16-week high intensity interval training using upper and lower body ergometers on aerobic fitness and morphological changes in healthy men: preliminary study". Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine. 5: 257–265. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S68932. PMC 4226445. PMID 25395872.
  12. 1 2 Mazurek K, Karwczyk K, Zemijeeski P, Norkoski H, Czajkowska (2014). "Effects of aerobic interval training versus continuous moderate exercise programme on aerobic and anaerobic capacity, somatic features and blood lipid profile in collegiate females". Ann Agric Environ Med. 21 (4): 844–849. doi:10.5604/12321966.1129949. PMID 25528932.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Wewege, M.; van den Berg, R.; Ward, R. E.; Keech, A. (11 April 2017). "The effects of high-intensity interval training vs. moderate-intensity continuous training on body composition in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Obesity Reviews. 18 (6): 635–646. doi:10.1111/obr.12532. ISSN 1467-7881. PMID 28401638. S2CID 3456533.
  14. ↑ TjØonna AE, Lee SJ, Rognmo Ø, et al. (2008). "Aerobic interval training vs. continuous moderate exercise as a treatment for the metabolic syndrome – "A Pilot Study"". Circulation. 118 (4): 346–354. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.772822. PMC 2777731. PMID 18606913.
  15. ↑ "Why your patients with prediabetes might benefit from interval training". American Medical Association. 9 October 2019.
  16. ↑ "How to Choose a Pace for Interval Sessions". CalcRun. 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  17. ↑ Musa, DI; Adeniran, SA; Dikko, AU; Sayers, SP (2009). "The effect of a high-intensity interval training program on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in young men". J Strength Cond Res. 23 (2): 587–92. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e318198fd28. PMID 19209073. S2CID 2914637.
  18. ↑ Roxburgh BH, Nolan PB, Weatherwax RM, Dalleck LC (2014). "Is Moderate Intensity Exercise Training Combined with High Intensity Interval Training More Effective at Improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness than Moderate Intensity Exercise Training Alone". Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. 13 (3): 702–737. PMC 4126312. PMID 25177202.
  19. ↑ "Short-term sprint interval versus traditional endurance training: similar initial adaptations in human skeletal muscle and exercise performance". Archived from the original on 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
  20. ↑ Two weeks of high-intensity aerobic interval training increases the capacity for fat oxidation during exercise in women
  21. ↑ NYTimes Article on Interval Training "A Healthy Mix of Rest and Motion"
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