High intensity interval training : effect of active and passive recovery on physiological indices

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training with the active recovery program (HIITAR) and high intensity interval training with the passive recovery program (HIITPR) on the aerobic and anaerobic performances in varsity football players. To achieve the purpose, 22 male football players with maximal oxygen consumption (vVO2max​) ≥ 49 ml/kg/min participated in this study. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups 1) HIITAR group (n=11; age 19.8 ± 1.6 year) and 2) HIITPR group (n=11; 19.54 ± 1.43 year). The participants were trained for two days per week for six weeks according to the established protocol. The HIITAR group performed running for 30 seconds at 105% velocity at the maximum oxygen consumption (vVO 2max​) with a 30-sec recovery period between bouts at 60% of ventilatory threshold (VT). The HIITPR group performed running for 30 seconds at 105% velocity at the maximum oxygen consumption (vVO 2max​) with passive recovery (PR) for 30 seconds in a standing position. Both training protocols were repeated for 5 sets with a 180-second rest period between the sets. Before and after the training, vVO 2max​ (Maximum Oxygen Uptake test): the ventilatory threshold (VT1), the heart rate at ventilatory threshold (VT1), the percentage of maximum heart rate at ventilatory threshold (VT1) and the running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST test): the average power, the time to exhaustion, and the fatigue index were assessed. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model was employed, with the changed score (post-test – pre-test) as the dependent variable, and the baseline values (pre-test) used as the covariate to control for any between-group imbalances. The significant value will be set as p<0.05. The results revealed that the average power HIITPR is significantly higher when compared with the HIITAR. However, there is no significant difference in vVO 2max​ (Maximum Oxygen Uptake test): ventilatory threshold (VT1), the heart rate at ventilatory threshold (VT1), the percentage of maximum heart rate at ventilatory threshold (VT1) and the running-based on the anaerobic sprint test (RAST test): the time to exhaustion, and the fatigue index. In conclusion, both HIITPR groups induced meaningful improvements in anaerobic performance (average power) when compared to the HIITAR. These data may promote the specific adaptation depending on the mode of recovery and the exercise protocol.