Skip to main page content
Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Nov 4;5:257-65.
doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S68932. eCollection 2014.

Effects of 16-week high-intensity interval training using upper and lower body ergometers on aerobic fitness and morphological changes in healthy men: a preliminary study

Yusuke Osawa  1 , Koichiro Azuma  2 , Shogo Tabata  2 , Fuminori Katsukawa  3 , Hiroyuki Ishida  3 , Yuko Oguma  3 , Toshihide Kawai  4 , Hiroshi Itoh  4 , Shigeo Okuda  5 , Hideo Matsumoto  2
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Effects of 16-week high-intensity interval training using upper and lower body ergometers on aerobic fitness and morphological changes in healthy men: a preliminary study

Yusuke Osawa et al. Open Access J Sports Med. .
Free PMC article
Favorites

Abstract

It is unclear whether combined leg and arm high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves fitness and morphological characteristics equal to those of leg-based HIIT programs. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of HIIT using leg-cycling (LC) and arm-cranking (AC) ergometers with an HIIT program using only LC. Effects on aerobic capacity and skeletal muscle were analyzed. Twelve healthy male subjects were assigned into two groups. One performed LC-HIIT (n=7) and the other LC- and AC-HIIT (n=5) twice weekly for 16 weeks. The training programs consisted of eight to 12 sets of >90% VO2 (the oxygen uptake that can be utilized in one minute) peak for 60 seconds with a 60-second active rest period. VO2 peak, watt peak, and heart rate were measured during an LC incremental exercise test. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of trunk and thigh muscles as well as bone-free lean body mass were measured using magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The watt peak increased from baseline in both the LC (23%±38%; P<0.05) and the LC-AC groups (11%±9%; P<0.05). The CSA of the quadriceps femoris muscles also increased from baseline in both the LC (11%±4%; P<0.05) and the LC-AC groups (5%±5%; P<0.05). In contrast, increases were observed in the CSA of musculus psoas major (9%±11%) and musculus anterolateral abdominal (7%±4%) only in the LC-AC group. These results suggest that a combined LC- and AC-HIIT program improves aerobic capacity and muscle hypertrophy in both leg and trunk muscles.

Keywords: aerobic capacity; arm-cranking ergometer; cycling ergometer; skeletal muscle.

Figures

Figure 1
Flow of participants through the trial. Participants were randomly assigned to training groups that performed twice-weekly high-intensity interval training (HIIT) using either leg-cycling ergometers (LC group) or both LC and arm-cranking ergometers (LC–AC group) for 16 weeks. Note: *twice weekly for 16 weeks.
Figure 2
Representative axial magnetic resonance imaging scans of the L3–L4 disc space level and the half-way point of the femur level at pretraining (A and C) and posttraining (B and D).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by 10 articles

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Little JP, Gillen JB, Percival ME, et al. Low-volume high-intensity interval training reduces hyperglycemia and increases muscle mitochondrial capacity in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Appl Physiol. 2011;111(6):1554–1560. - PubMed
    1. Nilsson BB, Westheim A, Risberg MA. Long-term effects of a group-based high-intensity aerobic interval-training program in patients with chronic heart failure. Am J Cardiol. 2008;102(9):1220–1224. - PubMed
    1. Rognmo O, Hetland E, Helgerud J, Hoff J, Slordahl SA. High intensity aerobic interval exercise is superior to moderate intensity exercise for increasing aerobic capacity in patients with coronary artery disease. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2004;11(3):216–222. - PubMed
    1. Tjonna AE, Lee SJ, Rognmo O, et al. Aerobic interval training versus continuous moderate exercise as a treatment for the metabolic syndrome: a pilot study. Circulation. 2008;118(4):346–354. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Warburton DE, McKenzie DC, Haykowsky MJ, et al. Effectiveness of high-intensity interval training for the rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol. 2005;95(9):1080–1084. - PubMed
Feedback