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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Sep;82:112-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2016.06.009. Epub 2016 Jun 21.

Novel all-extremity high-intensity interval training improves aerobic fitness, cardiac function and insulin resistance in healthy older adults

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Free PMC article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Novel all-extremity high-intensity interval training improves aerobic fitness, cardiac function and insulin resistance in healthy older adults

Chueh-Lung Hwang et al. Exp Gerontol. .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Aging is associated with decreased aerobic fitness and cardiac remodeling leading to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the treadmill has been reported to be more effective in ameliorating these risk factors compared with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in patients with cardiometabolic disease. In older adults, however, weight-bearing activities are frequently limited due to musculoskeletal and balance problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and safety of non-weight-bearing all-extremity HIIT in older adults. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that all-extremity HIIT will be more effective in improving aerobic fitness, cardiac function, and metabolic risk factors compared with all-extremity MICT. Fifty-one healthy sedentary older adults (age: 65±1years) were randomized to HIIT (n=17), MICT (n=18) or non-exercise control (CONT; n=16). HIIT (4×4min 90% of peak heart rate; HRpeak) and isocaloric MICT (70% of HRpeak) were performed on a non-weight-bearing all-extremity ergometer, 4×/week for 8weeks under supervision. All-extremity HIIT was feasible in older adults and resulted in no adverse events. Aerobic fitness (peak oxygen consumption; VO2peak) and ejection fraction (echocardiography) improved by 11% (P<0.0001) and 4% (P=0.001), respectively in HIIT, while no changes were observed in MICT and CONT (P≥0.1). Greater improvements in ejection fraction were associated with greater improvements in VO2peak (r=0.57; P<0.0001). Insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment) decreased only in HIIT by 26% (P=0.016). Diastolic function, body composition, glucose and lipids were unaffected (P≥0.1). In conclusion, all-extremity HIIT is feasible and safe in older adults. HIIT, but not MICT, improved aerobic fitness, ejection fraction, and insulin resistance.

Keywords: Aerobic fitness; Aging; Cardiac function; High-intensity interval training; Metabolic risk factors; Moderate-intensity continuous training.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow chart.
Figure 2
Exercise protocol for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) performed on an all-extremity non-weight-bearing ergometer. After a 10-minute warm-up at moderate intensity (65 to75% of peak heart rate, HRpeak; hatched bar), subjects in HIIT performed 4×4-minute bouts of exercise at high intensity (85 to 95% of HRpeak; dark solid bar) separated by 3-minute active recovery at moderate intensity (65 to 75% of HRpeak; light solid bar), while participants in MICT performed 32 minutes of exercise at moderate intensity (65 to 75% of HRpeak; dark solid bar). All study participants performed a 5-minute cool-down at moderate intensity (65 to 75% of HRpeak; hatched bar).
Figure 3
Change in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak; panel A) and left ventricular ejection fraction (panel B) in non-exercise control (CONT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) groups. *P≤0.01 vs. CONT. #P=0.005 vs. MICT.
Figure 4
Relation between the change in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and the change in left ventricular ejection fraction. CONT=non-exercise control; MICT=moderate-intensity continuous training; HIIT=high-intensity interval training.
Figure 5
Change in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in non-exercise control (CONT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) groups. *P=0.03 vs. CONT; #P=0.007 vs. MICT.

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