The comparison of physiological adaptations following a 4-week cycle and shuttle run-based SIT interventions

Abstract

This study examined the effects of 4 weeks of 10-meter shuttle run and cycling sprint interval training (SIT) protocols on physiological and performance measures. Twenty-six healthy, recreationally active adults (19 males, 7 females; age 25± 5y) were assigned to either a control (n=9), run group (n=8), or cycle group (n=9). All groups completed pre- and post-intervention testing that consisted of body composition assessment, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups, Wingate 30-second anaerobic test and Time to Exhaustion (TTE) with breath-by-breath gas analyser to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max). The training comprised two sessions per week of 4 × 15-second "all-out" sprints with a 90-second recovery between bouts either on a cycle ergometer against 7.5% of body mass in the cycle group or as a 10-meter shuttle run for the run group. Both training groups increased significantly their TTE (cycle- pre: 445±67s; post: 468±58s; p=0.029; run- pre: 439±108s; post: 479±126s; p<0.001), distance covered (cycle- pre: 4711±1260 m; post: 5116±1177 m; p=0.046; run- pre: 4706±2009 m; post: 5498±2476 m; p<0.001), Wingate mean power (MP) (cycle- pre: 6.60±0.97 W/kg; post: 7.13±1.11 W/kg; p<0.001; run- pre: 7.29±1.05 W/kg; post: 7.73±0.92 W/kg; p=0.004), peak power (PP) (cycle- pre: 9.03±1.33 W/kg; post: 10.29±2.17 W/kg; p=0.002; run- pre: 9.59±1.81 W/kg; post: 10.60±1.71 W/kg; p=0.015). Only the cycle group improved their absolute and relative VO_2max (absolute pre: 2.7±0.5 L/min; post: 3.0±0.4 L/min; p=0.027; relative pre: 35.3±7.3 ml/kg/min; post: 38.3±5.2 ml/kg/min; p=0.027). Both training groups improved significantly the MVIC of their RIGHT quadriceps (cycle- pre: 49.4±11 kg; post: 57.6±10 kg; p=0.002; run- pre: 51.1±17 kg; post: 59.6±20 kg; p=0.002) and hamstring groups (cycle- pre: 14.6±5 kg; post: 17.2±4 kg; p=0.031; run- pre: 17.2±6 kg; post: 19.9±6kg; p=0.028); but only the run group improved the strength of the LEFT quadriceps (pre: 47.4±17 kg; post: 59.2±19 kg; p=0.003) and hamstring (pre: 17.2±6 kg; post: 19.9±6kg; p=0.028) groups. The training had no significant effect on heart rate (HR) measures. The control group did not change in any of the measures. These results indicate that shuttle run interval sprint training with no equipment provides comparable results as standard cycling SIT on a LODE bike.

Date of Award	19 Jun 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Abertay University
Supervisor	John Babraj (Supervisor) & Ross Lorimer (Supervisor)