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Tabata training and its effect on children's and adolescents' physical and mental health: a systematic review and
Qi-Kai Tang1, Hao Li1, Muhammad Hafiz Zuhdi Fairof1
1Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness H-CARE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Introduction:
Childhood and adolescence are critical developmental periods marked by increasing physical inactivity, stress and mental health problems. TABATA training, a supramaximal form of high-intensity interval training, has been increasingly promoted as a time-efficient approach to improving health. However, evidence on its specific effects in children and adolescents remains limited, fragmented and not systematically synthesised. The objective of this review is to determine whether TABATA training improves physical fitness and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years.
Methods And Analysis:
We will perform a systematic review of experimental studies in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. The initial literature search was conducted in May 2025, and the systematic review is expected to be completed by March 2026. Eligible studies will include multisession Tabata interventions defined as repeated 20 s high-intensity bouts with 10 s rest intervals, typically performed for 7-8 cycles per set, with or without multiple sets. Outcomes will include physical fitness indicators and mental health indicators. Study selection and data extraction will follow the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, Study design framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool for randomised trials and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions for non-randomised studies. When sufficient data are available, quantitative synthesis will be conducted using a three-level random-effects meta-analytic model to account for dependency among effect sizes and anticipated clinical and methodological heterogeneity across studies. Effect sizes for continuous outcomes will be calculated as standardised mean differences. Sensitivity analyses will be performed, and publication bias will be assessed using funnel plots when an adequate number of studies is available. Statistical analyses will be performed using R and Review Manager (RevMan) V.5.4, where appropriate.
Ethics And Dissemination:
The results of the systematic review will be disseminated via publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a relevant conference. As we will not use individual patient data, ethical approval is not required.
Prospero Registration Number:
CRD42025632986.
