VO₂max (VO₂peak) in elite athletes under high-intensity interval training: A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Athletic Performance

Background:

• Elite athletes require optimized training for peak performance.
• Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is a key indicator of aerobic capacity.
• The efficacy of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus conventional methods for elite athletes remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of HIIT and conventional training on VO2max in elite athletes.
• To determine if HIIT offers superior improvements in aerobic capacity for elite competitors.

Main Methods:

• Meta-analysis of nine studies involving 176 elite athletes (80 female).
• Comparison of VO2max changes between HIIT and various conventional training protocols.
• Analysis of specific HIIT parameters, including recovery interval duration and intensity.

Main Results:

• HIIT demonstrated a significant increase in VO2max compared to conventional training (overall effect: 0.58 [0.30, 0.87]).
• VO2max improvements were notable with HIIT recovery intervals ≥2 minutes and recovery intensity ≤40%.
• HIIT showed superiority in enhancing aerobic capacity for elite athletes.

Conclusions:

• High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is more effective than conventional methods for improving VO2max in elite athletes.
• Optimizing HIIT recovery periods (≥2 min interval, ≤40% intensity) maximizes aerobic capacity gains.
• HIIT represents a superior training strategy for enhancing athletic performance in elite populations.