On Your Mark, Get Set, Choose! A Randomized Cross-Over Study Comparing Fixed and Self-Selected Rest Periods in...

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Training Methodology

Background:

• High-intensity interval training (HIIT) research often compares fixed rest durations with self-selected (SS) rest.
• Previous SS protocols used unlimited rest, causing inconsistent durations.
• This study simplified the SS rest allocation task to assess its impact on performance and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a simplified self-selected rest approach in running HIIT.
• To compare performance, physiological, and psychological outcomes between fixed and self-selected rest conditions.
• To evaluate athlete preferences for different rest allocation strategies.

Main Methods:

• 24 professional female soccer players completed two running HIIT sessions on a non-motorized treadmill.
• Each session involved twelve 15-second intervals with 270 seconds of total rest per block.
• Rest was either fixed at 90 seconds or self-selected by the athletes within each block.

Main Results:

• Performance and most physiological/psychological outcomes were comparable between fixed and self-selected rest.
• Self-selected rest led to significantly higher autonomy and a negligibly higher heart rate.
• Athletes progressively increased rest duration within blocks, with 65% preferring the self-selected method.

Conclusions:

• Self-selected and fixed rest durations in HIIT produce similar physiological and performance outcomes when total rest is matched.
• Simplified SS rest allocation enhances autonomy without compromising training effectiveness.
• Coaches and athletes can choose between fixed or SS rest based on training goals and preferences.