How does high-intensity intermittent training affect recreational endurance runners? Acute and chronic adaptations: A systematic review

Objective: This systematic review aimed to critically analyze the literature to determine how high-intensity intermittent training(HIIT) affects recreational endurance runners in the short-and long-term.Methods: Electronic databases were searched for literature dating from January 2000 to October 2015. The search was conducted using the key words "high-intensity intermittent training" or "high-intensity interval exercise" or "interval running" or "sprint interval training" and "endurance runners" or "long distance runners". A systematic approach was used to evaluate the 783 articles identified for initial review. Studies were included if they investigated HIIT in recreational endurance runners. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database(PEDro) scale(for intervention studies) and the modified Downs and Black Quality Index(for cross-sectional studies).Results: Twenty-three studies met the inclusionary criteria for review. The results are presented in 2 parts: cross-sectional(n = 15) and intervention studies(n = 8). In the 15 cross-sectional studies selected, endurance runners performed at least 1 HIIT protocol, and the acute impact on physiological, neuromuscular, metabolic and/or biomechanical variables was assessed. Intervention studies lasted a minimum of 4 weeks, with 10 weeks being the longest intervention period, and included 2 to 4 HIIT sessions per week. Most of these studies combined HIIT sessions with continuous run(CR) sessions; 2 studies' subjects performed HIIT exclusively.Conclusion: HIIT-based running plans(2 to 3 HIIT sessions per week, combining HIIT and CR runs) show athletic performance improvements in endurance runners by improving maximal oxygen uptake and running economy along with muscular and metabolic adaptations. To maximize the adaptations to training, both HIIT and CR must be part of training programs for endurance runners.

Effects of 12 weeks of barefoot running on foot strike patterns,inversion-eversion and foot rotation in long-distance runners

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 12 weeks of barefoot running on foot strike patterns,inversion-eversion and foot rotation in long-distance runners.Methods:Thirty-one endurance runners with no experience in barefoot running were randomized into a control group and an experimental group who received barefoot training.At pre-test and post-test,all subjects ran at low and high self-selected speeds on a treadmill.Data were collected by systematic observation of lateral and back recordings at 240 Hz.Results:McNemar’s test indicated significant changes(p <0.05) in the experimental group at both high and low speed running in foot strike patterns,reducing the percentage of high rearfoot strikers and increasing the number of midfoot strikers.A significant increase(p <0.05) of external rotation of the foot and a decrease of inversion occurred at comfortable speed in the experimental group.Conclusion:Twelve weeks of barefoot running,applied progressively,causes significant changes in foot strike pattern with a tendency toward midfoot or forefoot strikes,regardless of running speed and significant changes in foot rotation at low speed,while the inversion was reduced in left foot at low speed with a tendency toward centered strike.

Changes in balance ability,power output,and stretch-shortening cycle utilisation after two high-intensity intermittent training protocols in endurance runners

Purpose：This study aimed to describe the acute effects of 2 different high-intensity intermittent trainings（HIITs） on postural control,countermovement jump（CMJ）,squat jump（SJ）,and stretch-shortening cycle（SSC） utilisation,and to compare the changes induced by both protocols in those variables in endurance runners.Methods：Eighteen recreationally trained endurance runners participated in this study and were tested on 2 occasions：10 runs of 400 m with 90 s recovery between running bouts（10×400 m）,and 40 runs of 100 m with 30 s recovery between runs（40 × 100 m）.Heart rate was monitored during both HIITs;blood lactate accumulation and rate of perceived exertion were recorded after both protocols.Vertical jump ability（CMJ and SJ） and SSC together with postural control were also controlled during both HIITs.Results：Repeated measures analysis revealed a significan improvement in CMJ and SJ during 10 × 400 m（p〈0.05）,whilst no significan changes were observed during 40×100 m.Indexes related to SSC did not experience significan changes during any of the protocols.As for postural control,no significan changes were observed in the 40×100 m protocol,whilst significan impairments were observed during the 10×400 m protocol（p〈0.05）.Conclusion：A protocol with a higher number of shorter runs（40×100 m） induced different changes in those neuromuscular parameters than those with fewer and longer runs（10×400 m）.Whereas the 40×100 m protocol did not cause any significan changes in vertical jump ability,postural control or SSC utilisation,the 10×400 m protocol impaired postural control and caused improvements in vertical jumping tests.