Workout Duration Alters the Importance of Predictive Traits on High-Intensity Functional Training Workout Performance

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Human Performance

Background:

• High-intensity functional training (HIFT) encompasses diverse workouts with varying physiological demands.
• The influence of specific programming variables, such as workout duration, on HIFT performance determinants remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how altering workout duration affects the relationships between physiological traits and HIFT performance.
• To determine if different workout lengths emphasize distinct performance metrics and predictive factors.

Main Methods:

• Twelve men and ten women with at least two years of HIFT experience participated.
• Participants completed baseline assessments of body composition and performance in vertical jump, barbell thruster, and 2000m rowing.
• Subjects randomly performed the same circuit (rowing, thrusters, box jumps) for maximal repetitions within 5-minute and 15-minute durations.

Main Results:

• Performance metrics, particularly rowing (time and power), were strongly correlated with performance in the 5-minute workout.
• Participant experience and body composition measures showed stronger associations with strategies for the 15-minute workout, especially transition times.
• Spearman correlation analysis identified significant differences in trait importance between the two workout durations.

Conclusions:

• Increasing HIFT workout duration modifies the relevance of predictive physiological traits and performance measures.
• Shorter HIFT durations appear more dependent on specific exercise kinetics (e.g., rowing), whereas longer durations may favor experience and body composition.