Interval Training and Performance

Summary

Researchers, coaches and athletes have a variety of concepts of interval training, the only point of agreement being that interval training involves alternating bouts of exercise and recovery. The idea that interval training can be identified by a specific intensity, duration, or number of exercise bouts or by the amount or type of recovery between bouts of exercise is not valid. Rather, interval training has come to mean any type of intermittent training which, with manipulation of the number, intensity and duration of work bouts and amounts of recovery, is used to produce a particular type of stress on the body.

There is general agreement that rather specific guidelines are available which determine the amount and intensity of work and the amount of rest necessary to produce specific results, and it is suggested that types of training be identified based on the specific characteristics of each particular type of training rather than placing all types of intermittent training in an all-inclusive category called ‘interval training’.

Further efforts should be made to continue investigations which help determine how much, how often and for whom the various types of intermittent training are beneficial.