Cardiopulmonary responses during the execution of aerobic interval exercise: Effects of training load variables

Abstract

This summary presents research work that focuses on how variables of training load such as repetition and interval duration, slope of the terrain, and the interaction of intensity and duration of repetitions during the performance of an aerobic interval training unit affect cardiorespiratory responses. When performing interval exercise: a) with a repetition duration of 4 minutes at an intensity 90% of maximum aerobic speed (MAS), the rest interval duration (2, 3, or 4 min) does not affect exercise time at high rates of VO2max. Short interval durations cause a greater increase in heart rate and lactate. b) with an intensity 100% of MAS, 1 min repetitions cause higher values of exercise time with oxygen consumption higher than 80% of VO2max compared to 2 min repetitions, regardless of the ratio of exercise to rest interval duration (1:1 or 2:1) while repetition and resta interval duration do not affect the exercise time with oxygen consumption higher than 90% of VO2max and HRmax. (c) ground gradient does not affect cardiopulmonary responses, regardless of the duration of the repetitions (4 or 8 min), when the same relative intensity is maintained. Very long repetitions (8 min) at submaximal intensity (80% of MAS) offer more exercise time with high oxygen consumption and heart rate versus moderate duration repetitions (4 min) at very high intensity (90% of MAS) when programs are run until exhaustion. d) combinations of duration and intensity of repetitions: i) 2 min exercise at 100% of MAS with 2 min rest, ii) 3 min of exercise at 95% of MAS with 3 min rest, and iii) 4 min of exercise at 90% of MAS with 4 min rest, cause a similar strain on the oxygen transport and consumption system when programs are run until exhaustion.