Abstract
Purpose
To examine the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared to volume-matched moderate-intensity continuous training (CONT) on muscle pain tolerance and high-intensity exercise tolerance.
Methods
Twenty healthy adults were randomly assigned (1:1) to either 6 weeks of HIIT [6–8 × 5 min at halfway between lactate threshold and maximal oxygen uptake (50%Δ)] or volume-matched CONT (~60–80 min at 90% lactate threshold) on a cycle ergometer. A tourniquet test to examine muscle pain tolerance and two time to exhaustion (TTE) trials at 50%Δ to examine exercise tolerance were completed pre- and post-training; the post-training TTE trials were completed at the pre-training 50%Δ (same absolute-intensity) and the post-training 50%Δ (same relative-intensity).
Results
HIIT and CONT resulted in similar improvements in markers of aerobic fitness (all P ≥ 0.081). HIIT increased TTE at the same absolute- and relative-intensity as pre-training (148 and 43%, respectively) to a greater extent than CONT (38 and −4%, respectively) (both P ≤ 0.019). HIIT increased pain tolerance (41%, P < 0.001), whereas CONT had no effect (−3%, P = 0.720). Changes in pain tolerance demonstrated positive relationships with changes in TTE at the same absolute- (r = 0.44, P = 0.027) and relative-intensity (r = 0.51, P = 0.011) as pre-training.
Conclusion
The repeated exposure to a high-intensity training stimulus increases muscle pain tolerance, which is independent of the improvements in aerobic fitness induced by endurance training, and may contribute to the increase in high-intensity exercise tolerance following HIIT.
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Abbreviations
- CNS:
-
Central nervous system
- CONT:
-
Moderate-intensity continuous training
- HIIT:
-
High-intensity interval training
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- [La−]:
-
Blood lactate concentration
- LT:
-
Lactate threshold
- LTP:
-
Lactate turn-point
- MVC:
-
Maximal voluntary contraction
- post-abs:
-
Same absolute-intensity as pre-training
- post-rel:
-
Same relative-intensity as pre-training
- RPE:
-
Rating of perceived exertion
- TTE:
-
Time to exhaustion
- \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\) :
-
Oxygen uptake
- \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\hbox{max} }\) :
-
Maximal oxygen uptake
- \(\dot{W}_{ \hbox{max} }\) :
-
Peak power output
- 50%∆:
-
Intensity equivalent to halfway between LT and \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\hbox{max} }\)
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The study was designed by TJO, MGM and JC; TJO and MGM collected and analysed the data; TJO, MGM, JC and KH all contributed to preparation of the manuscript. The final manuscript was approved by all authors. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Communicated by Guido Ferretti.
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O’Leary, T.J., Collett, J., Howells, K. et al. High but not moderate-intensity endurance training increases pain tolerance: a randomised trial. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 2201–2210 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3708-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3708-8