TY - JOUR

T1 - Six weeks of high intensity interval training (HIIT) preserves aerobic capacity in sedentary older males and male masters athletes for four years: A reunion study.

AU - Herbert, Peter

AU - Hayes, Lawrence

AU - Beaumont, Alexander J.

AU - Grace, Fergal M.

AU - Sculthorpe, N.F.

PY - 2021/7/15

Y1 - 2021/7/15

N2 - Long-term implications of acutely increased cardiorespiratory fitness following short-term exercise interventions in older adults are unknown. In this study, we examined peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) four 'free-living' after a high intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention. Seventeen lifelong exercisers (LEX) and 17 previously sedentary (SED) males (55-74 years of age in 2012) were tested four years (phase D) after our previous experiment which included 6-weeks of aerobic moderate intensity exercise (phase B), followed by 6-weeks of HIIT (phase C). At all stages, a standard incremental exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer was completed to determine VO2peak. SED (P = 1.000, Cohen's d = 0.01) and LEX (P = 1.000, Cohen's d = 0.11) VO2peak at phase D was not different from phase A (enrolment). SED experienced a large decrease in VO2peak from phase C to phase D (32 ± 6 ml·kg·min-1 to 27 ± 6 ml·kg·min-1 [P 2peak from phase C to phase D (42 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 39 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 [P 2peak than SED (P 2peak over the four years from 39 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 36 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 (N = 25, P 2peak from 30 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 25 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 (N = 9, P = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.62). Four years after completing a brief period of aerobic exercise and HIIT, older males demonstrated a preservation of VO2peak, irrespective of training status (LEX or SED). However, LEX exhibited greater VO2peak than SED after 4-years of unsupervised 'free-living'. Finally, those who discontinued exercising experienced a greater reduction in VO2peak. These findings infer that to maintain aerobic capacity, 6 weeks of HIIT every four year may be sufficient, but to attenuate the decline, exercise should be maintained.

AB - Long-term implications of acutely increased cardiorespiratory fitness following short-term exercise interventions in older adults are unknown. In this study, we examined peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) four 'free-living' after a high intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention. Seventeen lifelong exercisers (LEX) and 17 previously sedentary (SED) males (55-74 years of age in 2012) were tested four years (phase D) after our previous experiment which included 6-weeks of aerobic moderate intensity exercise (phase B), followed by 6-weeks of HIIT (phase C). At all stages, a standard incremental exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer was completed to determine VO2peak. SED (P = 1.000, Cohen's d = 0.01) and LEX (P = 1.000, Cohen's d = 0.11) VO2peak at phase D was not different from phase A (enrolment). SED experienced a large decrease in VO2peak from phase C to phase D (32 ± 6 ml·kg·min-1 to 27 ± 6 ml·kg·min-1 [P 2peak from phase C to phase D (42 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 39 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 [P 2peak than SED (P 2peak over the four years from 39 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 36 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 (N = 25, P 2peak from 30 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 25 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 (N = 9, P = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.62). Four years after completing a brief period of aerobic exercise and HIIT, older males demonstrated a preservation of VO2peak, irrespective of training status (LEX or SED). However, LEX exhibited greater VO2peak than SED after 4-years of unsupervised 'free-living'. Finally, those who discontinued exercising experienced a greater reduction in VO2peak. These findings infer that to maintain aerobic capacity, 6 weeks of HIIT every four year may be sufficient, but to attenuate the decline, exercise should be maintained.

U2 - 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111373

DO - 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111373

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33895265

VL - 150

JO - Experimental Gerontology

JF - Experimental Gerontology

SN - 0531-5565

M1 - 111373

ER -