Hemodynamic Adaptations Induced by Short-Term Run Interval Training in College Students

Perceived lack of time is one of the most often cited barriers to exercise participation. High intensity interval training has become a popular training modality that incorporates intervals of maximal and low-intensity exercise with a time commitment usually shorter than 30 min. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short-term run interval training (RIT) on body composition (BC) and cardiorespiratory responses in undergraduate college students. Nineteen males (21.5 ± 1.6 years) were randomly assigned to a non-exercise control (CON, n = 10) or RIT (n = 9). Baseline measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate (HRrest), double product (DP) and BC were obtained from both groups. VO_2max and running speed associated with VO_2peak (sVO_2peak) were then measured. RIT consisted of three running treadmill sessions per week over 4 weeks (intervals at 100% sVO_2peak, recovery periods at 40% sVO_2peak). There were no differences in post-training BC or VO₂max between groups (p > 0.05). HRrest (p = 0.006) and DP (p ≤ 0.001) were lower in the RIT group compared to CON at completion of the study. RIT lowered HRrest and DP in the absence of appreciable BC and VO_2max changes. Thereby, RIT could be an alternative model of training to diminish health-related risk factors in undergraduate college students.