Metabolic Adaptations to Short-term High-Intensity Interval Training: A Little Pain for a Lot of Gain?
Abstract
In Brief High-intensity interval training (HIT) is a potent time-efficient strategy to induce numerous metabolic adaptations usually associated with traditional endurance training. As little as six sessions of HIT over 2 wk or a total of only approximately 15 min of very intense exercise (~600 kJ), can increase skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and endurance performance and alter metabolic control during aerobic-based exercise. High-intensity interval training is a potent, time-efficient strategy to induce numerous metabolic adaptations usually associated with traditional endurance training.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Low-volume high-intensity interval training is characterized by brief repeated bursts of vigorous exercise interspersed with periods of rest or low-intensity exercise for recovery.
“Low-volume HIT is characterized by brief repeated ‘bursts’ of vigorous exercise interspersed with periods of rest or low-intensity exercise for recovery.”
From High-Intensity Interval Resistance Training (HIRT) influences resting energy expenditure and respiratory ratio in non-dieting individuals (2012) · cites this paper as [14]
High-intensity interval training is based on a substantially cyclic, endurance-type movement such as cycling.
“but HIT is based on a substantially cyclic, endurance type movement (e.g. cycling).”
From High-Intensity Interval Resistance Training (HIRT) influences resting energy expenditure and respiratory ratio in non-dieting individuals (2012) · cites this paper as [14]
The most common high-intensity interval training protocol in published research is the Wingate test, consisting of 30 seconds of an all-out hard resistance sprint performed 4 to 6 times separated by 4 minutes of rest.
“The most common protocol in published research is the Wingate test which consists of 30s of an all-out hard resistance sprint and subjects typically perform the Wingate test 4 to 6 times separated by 4 min of rest [14].”
From High-Intensity Interval Resistance Training (HIRT) influences resting energy expenditure and respiratory ratio in non-dieting individuals (2012) · cites this paper as [14]
Short-term interval training protocols can induce physiological remodeling similar to continuous moderate-intensity training, despite reduced time commitment and a relatively small total exercise volume.
“Short-term interval training protocols can induce physiological remodeling similar to continuous moderate-intensity training, despite reduced time commitment and a relatively small total exercise volume [1].”
From Three minutes of all-out intermittent exercise per week increases skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and improves cardiometabolic health (2014) · cites this paper as [1]
Cites
Transcriptional co-activator PGC-1α drives the formation of slow-twitch muscle fibres
Lin, J., Wu, H., Tarr, P. T., Zhang, C.-Y., Wu, Z., Boss, O., Michael, L. F., Puigserver, P., Isotani, E., Olson, E. N., et al. (2002) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature00904 · Cited by 2,546 · see citing works
Burgomaster, K. A., Howarth, K. R., Phillips, S. M., Rakobowchuk, M., MacDonald, M. J., McGee, S. L., & Gibala, M. J. (2008) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2007.142109 · Cited by 1,257 · see citing works
Self-citationGibala, M. J., Little, J. P., Van Essen, M., Wilkin, G. P., Burgomaster, K. A., Safdar, A., Raha, S., & Tarnopolsky, M. A. (2006) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2006.112094 · Cited by 1,082 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Scientific Basis for High-Intensity Interval Training
Laursen, P. B., & Jenkins, D. G. (2002) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.2165/00007256-200232010-00003 · Cited by 1,038 · see citing works
Burgomaster, K. A., Hughes, S. C., Heigenhauser, G. J. F., Bradwel, S. N., & Gibala, M. J. (2005) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01095.2004 · Cited by 856 · see citing works
Self-citationAkimoto, T., Pohnert, S. C., Li, P., Zhang, M., Gumbs, C., Rosenberg, P. B., Williams, R. S., & Yan, Z. (2005) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1074/jbc.m408862200 · Cited by 714 · see citing works
Rognmo, Ø., Hetland, E. V., Helgerud, J., Hoff, J., & Slørdahl, S. A. (2004) · European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation · doi:10.1097/01.hjr.0000131677.96762.0c · Cited by 707 · see citing works
The evolution of physical activity recommendations: how much is enough?
Blair, S. N., LaMonte, M. J., & Nichaman, M. Z. (2004) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/79.5.913s · Cited by 547 · see citing works
AMPK: A Key Sensor of Fuel and Energy Status in Skeletal Muscle
Hardie, D. G., & Sakamoto, K. (2006) · Physiology · doi:10.1152/physiol.00044.2005 · Cited by 519 · see citing works
King, A. C., Haskell, W. L., Young, D. R., Oka, R. K., & Stefanick, M. L. (1995) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/01.cir.91.10.2596 · Cited by 517 · see citing works
Exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis begins before the increase in muscle PGC-1α expression.
Wright, D. C., Han, D.-H., Garcia-Roves, P. M., Geiger, P. C., Jones, T. E., & Holloszy, J. O. (2007) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1074/jbc.m606116200 · Cited by 488 · see citing works
Talanian, J. L., Galloway, S. D. R., Heigenhauser, G. J. F., Bonen, A., & Spriet, L. L. (2006) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01098.2006 · Cited by 443 · see citing works
Burgomaster, K. A., Heigenhauser, G. J. F., & Gibala, M. J. (2006) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01220.2005 · Cited by 432 · see citing works
Self-citationInfluence of exercise intensity and duration on biochemical adaptations in skeletal muscle
Dudley, G. A., Abraham, W. M., & Terjung, R. L. (1982) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.1982.53.4.844 · Cited by 413 · see citing works
Fan, M., Rhee, J., St-Pierre, J., Handschin, C., Puigserver, P., Lin, J., Jäeger, S., Erdjument-Bromage, H., Tempst, P., & Spiegelman, B. M. (2004) · Genes & Development · doi:10.1101/gad.1152204 · Cited by 309 · see citing works
Warburton, D. E. R., McKenzie, D. C., Haykowsky, M. J., Taylor, A., Shoemaker, P., Ignaszewski, A. P., & Chan, S. (2005) · The American Journal of Cardiology · doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2004.12.063 · Cited by 305 · see citing works
PGC-1, a versatile coactivator
Knutti, D., & Kralli, A. (2001) · Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1016/s1043-2760(01)00457-x · Cited by 294 · see citing works
Long-Term Metabolic and Skeletal Muscle Adaptations to Short-Sprint Training
Ross, A., & LEVERITT, M. D. (2001) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.2165/00007256-200131150-00003 · Cited by 285 · see citing works
Burgomaster, K. A., Cermak, N. M., Phillips, S. M., Benton, C. R., Bonen, A., & Gibala, M. J. (2007) · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00503.2006 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
Self-citationDivergent effects of exercise on metabolic and mitogenic signaling pathways in human skeletal muscle
Widegren, U., Jiang, X. J., Krook, A., Chibalin, A., Björnholm, M., Tally, M., Roth, R. A., Henriksson, J., Wallberg‐Henriksson, H., & Zierath, J. R. (1998) · The FASEB Journal · doi:10.1096/fasebj.12.13.1379 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
A short training programme for the rapid improvement of both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism
Rodas, G., Ventura, J. L., Cadefau, J. A., Cussó, R., & Parra, J. (2000) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s004210000223 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Exercise and Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 Regulation in Human Skeletal Muscle
McGee, S. L., & Hargreaves, M. (2004) · Diabetes · doi:10.2337/diabetes.53.5.1208 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Self-citationTraining for Endurance and Strength
Baar, K. (2006) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000233799.62153.19 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Godin, G., Desharnais, R., Valois, P., Lepage, L., Jobin, J., & Bradet, R. (1994) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/0890-1171-8.4.279 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Akimoto, T., Sorg, B. S., & Yan, Z. (2004) · American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00425.2003 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Effects of high‐intensity intermittent swimming on PGC‐1α protein expression in rat skeletal muscle
Terada, S., Kawanaka, K., Goto, M., Shimokawa, T., & Tabata, I. (2005) · Acta Physiologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1365-201x.2005.01423.x · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Physiological adaptations to low-volume, high-intensity interval training in health and disease
Gibala, M. J., Little, J. P., MacDonald, M. J., & Hawley, J. A. (2012) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2011.224725 · Cited by 1,744 · see citing works
Self-citationVascular Adaptation to Exercise in Humans: Role of Hemodynamic Stimuli
Green, D. J., Hopman, M. T. E., Padilla, J., Laughlin, M. H., & Thijssen, D. H. J. (2017) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00014.2016 · Cited by 821 · see citing works
Mezzani, A., Hamm, L. F., Jones, A. M., McBride, P. E., Moholdt, T., Stone, J. A., Urhausen, A., & Williams, M. A. (2013) · European Journal of Preventive Cardiology · doi:10.1177/2047487312460484 · Cited by 550 · see citing works
Gibala, M. J., McGee, S. L., Garnham, A. P., Howlett, K. F., Snow, R. J., & Hargreaves, M. (2009) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.90880.2008 · Cited by 427 · see citing works
Babraj, J. A., Vollaard, N. B., Keast, C., Guppy, F. M., Cottrell, G., & Timmons, J. A. (2009) · BMC Endocrine Disorders · doi:10.1186/1472-6823-9-3 · Cited by 374 · see citing works
Egan, B., Carson, B. P., Garcia-Roves, P. M., Chibalin, A. V., Sarsfield, F. M., Barron, N., McCaffrey, N., Moyna, N. M., Zierath, J. R., & O’Gorman, D. J. (2010) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2010.188011 · Cited by 373 · see citing works
Biddle, S. J. H., & Batterham, A. M. (2015) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0254-9 · Cited by 355 · see citing works
Little, J. P., Safdar, A., Bishop, D., Tarnopolsky, M. A., & Gibala, M. J. (2011) · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00538.2010 · Cited by 342 · see citing works
Self-citationJung, M. E., Bourne, J. E., & Little, J. P. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114541 · Cited by 331 · see citing works
High-Intensity Interval Training to Maximize Cardiac Benefits of Exercise Training?
Wisløff, U., Ellingsen, Ø., & Kemi, O. J. (2009) · Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews · doi:10.1097/jes.0b013e3181aa65fc · Cited by 330 · see citing works
Sultana, R. N., Sabag, A., Keating, S. E., & Johnson, N. A. (2019) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01167-w · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Gillen, J. B., Little, J. P., Punthakee, Z., Tarnopolsky, M. A., Riddell, M. C., & Gibala, M. J. (2012) · Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism · doi:10.1111/j.1463-1326.2012.01564.x · Cited by 272 · see citing works
Self-citation10 or 30-S Sprint Interval Training Bouts Enhance Both Aerobic and Anaerobic Performance
Hazell, T. J., MacPherson, R. E. K., Gravelle, B. M. R., & Lemon, P. W. R. (2010) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-010-1474-y · Cited by 272 · see citing works
Gillen, J. B., Percival, M. E., Ludzki, A., Tarnopolsky, M. A., & Gibala, M. J. (2013) · Obesity · doi:10.1002/oby.20379 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Self-citationDe Nardi, A. T., Tolves, T., Lenzi, T. L., Signori, L. U., & Silva, A. M. V. D. (2018) · Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice · doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2017.12.017 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Gillen, J. B., Percival, M. E., Skelly, L. E., Martin, B. J., Tan, R. B., Tarnopolsky, M. A., & Gibala, M. J. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111489 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Self-citationHigh intensity training in obesity: a Meta-analysis
Türk, Y., Theel, W., Kasteleyn, M. J., Franssen, F. M. E., Hiemstra, P. S., Rudolphus, A., Taube, C., & Braunstahl, G. J. (2017) · Obesity Science & Practice · doi:10.1002/osp4.109 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Decker, E. S., & Ekkekakis, P. (2017) · Psychology of Sport and Exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.09.005 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Gibala, M. (2009) · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · doi:10.1139/h09-046 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Self-citationEgan, B., O’Connor, P. L., Zierath, J. R., & O’Gorman, D. J. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074098 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Jiménez-Maldonado, A., Rentería, I., García-Suárez, P. C., Moncada-Jiménez, J., & Freire-Royes, L. F. (2018) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00839 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Paoli, A., Moro, T., Marcolin, G., Neri, M., Bianco, A., Palma, A., & Grimaldi, K. (2012) · Journal of Translational Medicine · doi:10.1186/1479-5876-10-237 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
“The most common protocol in published research is the Wingate test which consists of 30s of an all-out hard resistance sprint and subjects typically perform the Wingate test 4 to 6 times separated by 4 min of rest [14].”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSkleryk, J. R., Karagounis, L. G., Hawley, J. A., Sharman, M. J., Laursen, P. B., & Watson, G. (2013) · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · doi:10.1111/dom.12150 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Schulz, S. V. W., Laszlo, R., Otto, S., Prokopchuk, D., Schumann, U., Ebner, F., Huober, J., & Steinacker, J. M. (2018) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638288.2017.1300688 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Exercise intensity and insulin sensitivity: how low can you go?
Hawley, J. A., & Gibala, M. J. (2009) · Diabetologia · doi:10.1007/s00125-009-1425-5 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Self-citationA Mechanism Underlying Preventive Effect of High-Intensity Training on Colon Cancer
MATSUO, K., SATO, K., SUEMOTO, K., MIYAMOTO-MIKAMI, E., FUKU, N., HIGASHIDA, K., TSUJI, K., XU, Y., LIU, X., IEMITSU, M., et al. (2017) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000001312 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Exercise as a Therapeutic Strategy for Obesity: Central and Peripheral Mechanisms
Zhang, Y., Wang, R., Liu, T., & Wang, R. (2024) · Metabolites · doi:10.3390/metabo14110589 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Gaia, J. W. P., Schuch, F. B., Ferreira, R. W., Souza, E. D. L., Ferreira, V. M. S., & Pires, D. A. (2024) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports · doi:10.1111/sms.14618 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Ekkekakis, P., Hartman, M. E., & Ladwig, M. A. (2023) · Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1123/jsep.2022-0029 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
The role of exercise interval training in treating cardiovascular disease risk factors
Earnest, C. (2009) · Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports · doi:10.1007/s12170-009-0045-4 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Strength and conditioning for cricket fielding: A narrative review
Lim, J., Wong, S., McErlain-Naylor, S. A., Scanlan, A., Goggins, L., Ahmun, R., Comfort, P., & Weldon, A. (2023) · Strength & Conditioning Journal · doi:10.1519/ssc.0000000000000758 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gibala, M. J., & McGee, S. L.
- Affiliations
- McMaster University (CA)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Gibala, Martin J.
- Venue
- Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews
- Published
- 2008-04
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 58-63
- ISSN
- 0091-6331 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2097677476
- Cited by
- 682
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 62 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 78.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Keywords
- high-intensity interval training, metabolic adaptation, skeletal muscle oxidative capacity, endurance performance, aerobic metabolism, training volume
- MeSH terms
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha, Animals, Energy Metabolism, Glycogen, Heat-Shock Proteins, Humans, Oxygen Consumption, Transcription Factors, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review