Scholar - SciOpen

This study compared the cardiometabolic response between rowing high intensity interval training (HIIT) and high intensity functional training (HIFT). Twenty two adults (age and $\dot{V} O_{2} m a x$ = [25 ± 7] yr and [40 ± 9] mL/kg/min) underwent incremental exercise on a rowing ergometer to assess $\dot{V} O_{2} m a x$ and peak power output (PPO). Subsequently, they underwent rowing HIIT (six 1 minutes [min] efforts at 85% PPO with 75 seconds [s] recovery) or HIFT (six 1 min efforts including pushups, jump squats, mountain climbers, and air squats with 75 s recovery). Gas exchange data, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate concentration (BLa) were acquired during exercise and post-exercise. These regimens elicited 92%–96% HRmax, with higher peak HR ([174 ± 14] b/min vs. [167 ± 15] b/min, p = 0.002) and time spent ≥ 85% HRmax ([6.1 ± 2.2] min vs. [5.0 ± 2.8] min, p = 0.03) for HIFT versus rowing HIIT. Results showed similar peak $\dot{V} O_{2}$ between HIFT and HIIT ([81 ± 9] vs. [82 ± 8] $\dot{V} O_{2} m a x$ , p = 0.72), yet lower mean $\dot{V} O_{2}$ ([1.73 ± 0.38] L/min vs. [1.93 ± 0.50] L/min, p < 0.001). Mean and peak ventilation $({\dot{V}}_{E})$ was significantly higher (p < 0.05) with HIFT ([62 ± 13] L/min and [84 ± 18] L/min vs. [53 ± 15] L/min and [73 ± 19] L/min). BLa was significantly higher with HIFT versus rowing HIIT (p < 0.001) and was elevated 15 min post-exercise ([7.0 ± 3.0] mM vs. [3.5 ± 1.1] mM). In healthy, active adults, HIFT elicits vigorous intensities similar to traditional HIIT.