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Cited by 1,124Cardiovascular and exercise physiologySports Performance and TrainingExercise and Physiological Responses

Physiological adaptations to interval training and the role of exercise intensity

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MacInnis, Martin J., Gibala, Martin J.·2017·The Journal of Physiology
DOI 10.1113/jp273196PMC PMC5407969
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Abstract

Interval exercise typically involves repeated bouts of relatively intense exercise interspersed by short periods of recovery. A common classification scheme subdivides this method into high‐intensity interval training (HIIT; ‘near maximal’ efforts) and sprint interval training (SIT; ‘supramaximal’ efforts). Both forms of interval training induce the classic physiological adaptations characteristic of moderate‐intensity continuous training (MICT) such as increased aerobic capacity ( ) and mitochondrial content. This brief review considers the role of exercise intensity in mediating physiological adaptations to training, with a focus on the capacity for aerobic energy metabolism. With respect to skeletal muscle adaptations, cellular stress and the resultant metabolic signals for mitochondrial biogenesis depend largely on exercise intensity, with limited work suggesting that increases in mitochondrial content are superior after HIIT compared to MICT, at least when matched‐work comparisons are made within the same individual. It is well established that SIT increases mitochondrial content to a similar extent to MICT despite a reduced exercise volume. At the whole‐body level, is generally increased more by HIIT than MICT for a given training volume, whereas SIT and MICT similarly improve despite differences in training volume. There is less evidence available regarding the role of exercise intensity in mediating changes in skeletal muscle capillary density, maximum stroke volume and cardiac output, and blood volume. Furthermore, the interactions between intensity and duration and frequency have not been thoroughly explored. While interval training is clearly a potent stimulus for physiological remodelling in humans, the integrative response to this type of exercise warrants further attention, especially in comparison to traditional endurance training. image

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Crossref · 10.1113/jp273196

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  • In sports requiring sprinting and explosive power, very high intensity has more important effect than duration of sessions.

    “researchers have found that in sports requiring sprinting and explosive power for short periods there is a more important effect of very high intensity compared to the duration of sessions with purposeful practice and attained performance (MacInnis and Gibala, 2017).”

    From Deliberate Practice and Proposed Limits on the Effects of Practice on the Acquisition of Expert Performance: Why the Original Definition Matters and Recommendations for Future Research (2019) · cites this paper as MacInnis and Gibala, 2017

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says interval duration and frequency appear to have relatively small effects on aerobic-capacity improvements compared with exercise intensity. That supports the intensity-versus-duration comparison, but the paper does not establish it for sports requiring short bursts of sprinting and explosive power, or for purposeful practice and attained performance. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Depending on the length and number of bouts, energy expenditure during HIIT is often the same, or similar to, that for moderate-intensity continuous training of the same duration.

    “Depending on the length and number of bouts, energy expenditure during HIIT is often the same, or similar to, that for MICT of the same duration (MacInnis and Gibala, 2017).”

    From Effect of Exercise Training on Fat Loss—Energetic Perspectives and the Role of Improved Adipose Tissue Function and Body Fat Distribution (2021) · cites this paper as MacInnis and Gibala, 2017

    The Introduction (page unavailable) discusses work-matched comparisons of HIIT and MICT, supporting the possibility of similar exercise work. It does not establish that energy expenditure is often similar when the sessions have the same duration, or link that comparison to the length and number of bouts. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • HIIT promotes a greater improvement in mitochondrial oxidative capacity compared with MICT.

    “HIIT promotes a greater improvement in mitochondrial oxidative capacity compared with MICT”

    From Effect of Exercise Training on Fat Loss—Energetic Perspectives and the Role of Improved Adipose Tissue Function and Body Fat Distribution (2021) · cites this paper as MacInnis et al., 2017

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
MacInnis, M. J., & Gibala, M. J.
Affiliations
McMaster University (CA)
Corresponding author
Gibala, Martin J.
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-12-07
Volume
595
Issue
9
Pages
2915-2930
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jp273196
PMC
PMC5407969
OpenAlex
W2532232504
Cited by
1,124
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 130 · 2025: 141 · 2024: 154 · 2023: 151 · 2022: 135 · 2021: 135 · 2020: 120 · 2019: 78 · 2018: 53 · 2017: 24
FWCI
11.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN‐2015‐04632)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
interval training, high-intensity interval training, sprint interval training, exercise intensity, physiological adaptation, cardiorespiratory fitness, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial content, aerobic metabolism, skeletal muscle adaptation, capillary density, stroke volume, blood volume, training volume
MeSH terms
High-Intensity Interval Training, Adaptation, Physiological, Humans, Mitochondria, Muscle, Muscle, Skeletal

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