Comparative effects of high-intensity interval training with combined training on physical function markers in obese postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: This study compared the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with effects of combined training (CT) on physical function, body composition, and muscle strength in obese postmenopausal women (PW) (trial registration: NCT03200639). Methods: PW were randomized to CT (n = 12) and HIIT (n = 12). The CT group performed 30 minutes of moderate walking at 70% of maximum heart rate (MHR) and five resistance exercises at 70% of one repetition maximum (1RM) for 12 weeks. The HIIT group performed 10 sets of vigorous exercises (30 seconds (s) of stair climbing and 30 s of body weight squats) at >80% MHR interspersed by a light walk (recovery period at 60% MHR). Results: Both groups reduced body fat percentage (0.5%), chair stand (3 s) and increased leg lean mass (0.3 kg). Only the CT, however, increased muscle strength (29%) and fast walking speed (5%) compared with HIIT. The fast walking speed changes were partially explained by the muscle strength changes (36%, r = 0.60, P = 0.027) in the CT group. Conclusions: These results suggest that HIIT is an alternative time-efficient protocol for improving chair stand and body composition when compared with CT, whereas only CT is an efficient protocol for improving muscular strength and fast walking speed in obese PW. Thus, CT must be prioritized when the increase of muscular strength and fast walking speed are the goals of training. Video Summary: Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/MENO/A443.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) as a Potential Countermeasure for Phenotypic Characteristics of Sarcopenia: A Scoping Review

“…Of the 20 studies examining strength outcomes, 15 reported ≥1 strength parameter having been improved by HIIT compared to pre-training or compared to a moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) or non-exercise control. Of the remaining three (Robinson et al, 2017 ; Martins et al, 2018 ; Nunes et al, 2019 ), they all reported strength had improved more in a combined aerobic and resistance training group than a HIIT group.…”

“…Of the 32 studies included, 14 were RCTs (Adamson et al, 2014 , 2020 ; Hwang et al, 2016 ; Coetsee and Terblanche, 2017 ; Sculthorpe et al, 2017 ; Aboarrage Junior et al, 2018 ; Malin et al, 2018 ; Martins et al, 2018 ; Ballesta-García et al, 2019 ; Hurst et al, 2019c ; Jiménez-García et al, 2019 ; Nunes et al, 2019 ; Taylor et al, 2019 ; Coswig et al, 2020 ), one was a quasi-experimental, non-randomized, single-blinded controlled study (Losa-Reyna et al, 2019 ), 16 were observational cohort studies (Bruseghini et al, 2015 , 2019 ; Boereboom et al, 2016 ; Guadalupe-Grau et al, 2017 ; Hayes et al, 2017 ; Herbert et al, 2017a , b ; Robinson et al, 2017 ; Wyckelsma et al, 2017 ; Andonian et al, 2018 ; Bartlett et al, 2018 ; Buckinx et al, 2018 , 2019 ; Søgaard et al, 2018 , 2019 ; Snijders et al, 2019 ), and one was a pilot study (although randomized; (Beetham et al, 2019 ) ( Table 1 ). Where a study had multiple outcome measures, they were examined separately.…”

“…The remaining investigation used air plethysmography to determine whole body lean mass (Andonian et al, 2018 ). When considering the body of studies examining total body lean mass, several reported no increase from pre-HIIT (Bruseghini et al, 2015 ; Boereboom et al, 2016 ; Hwang et al, 2016 ; Andonian et al, 2018 ; Malin et al, 2018 ; Søgaard et al, 2018 ; Beetham et al, 2019 ; Buckinx et al, 2019 ; Jiménez-García et al, 2019 ; Nunes et al, 2019 ; Snijders et al, 2019 ; Coswig et al, 2020 ), whereas some reported an increase post-HIIT compared to pre-HIIT (Hayes et al, 2017 ; Herbert et al, 2017a ; Sculthorpe et al, 2017 ). To add further uncertainty, two studies which observed no increase in whole body lean quantity observed increased thigh lean mass (Boereboom et al, 2016 ; Bruseghini et al, 2019 ).…”

“…In this review, all of the studies assessing physical performance reported gait speed (part of the SPPB), the SPPB, or the TUG test as an outcome, which are the primary measurements of physical performance proposed by EWGSOP in clinical practice and research (Cruz-Jentoft et al, 2019 ). Four investigations also reported the 5 repetitions chair stand test separately (Adamson et al, 2014 , 2020 ; Losa-Reyna et al, 2019 ; Nunes et al, 2019 ). However, this is one element of the SPPB, so those reporting SPPB values will have conducted this test.…”

“…Of the remaining three (Robinson et al, 2017;Martins et al, 2018;Nunes et al, 2019), they all reported strength had improved more in a combined aerobic and resistance training group than a HIIT group. There were five studies which examined the effect of HIIT on muscle power, with two studies examining peak power output during cycle ergometry, and the remaining three determined power during a resistance training exercise (leg extension or legpress).…”