Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Intervals

Metabolic Adaptations to Short-term High-Intensity Interval Training: A Little Pain for a Lot of Gain?

I've talked about intervals before. I spotted this new article; there wasn't much in the abstract, so have bought the whole thing and will comment more when I've had a chance to read it.


Exercise & Sport Sciences Reviews. 36(2):58-63, April 2008.

Abstract:
High-intensity interval training (HIT) is a potent time-efficient strategy to induce numerous metabolic adaptations usually associated with traditional endurance training. As little as six sessions of HIT over 2 wk or a total of only approximately 15 min of very intense exercise (~600 kJ), can increase skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and endurance performance and alter metabolic control during aerobic-based exercise.

2 comments:

Bob said...

Thanks for the link. That's an interesting study.

Phillip said...

I have warmed up to intervals in the last few months due to your blog, Mark's, and Art's.

It does seem to produce superior results in little time. I suspect its benefits stick with you longer i.e., it takes longer to become de-trained.

Two other quick observations. (1) It is easy to over-do intervals. A little will go a long way. (2)Each Interval duration probably should be 20 seconds or less. I feel refreshed afterwards and next day if my kb snatches / sprints are less than 20 second bursts. Anything over 30 seconds starts pushing me closer to the red zone.