Do you prefer Sprints > Long-Distance Running? We've got great news for you!

The Effects of Sprint Interval vs. Continuous Endurance Training on Physiological And Metabolic Adaptations in Young Healthy Adults

Gulbin Rudarli Nalcakan. J Hum Kinet. 2014 Dec 9; 44: 97–109.

• Study compared 15 healthy individuals in a laboratory setting

• Two Groups performed protocols for 7 weeks, 3 days/week

  • Sprint interval training (SIT)

    • 4-6 30 second all out sprints (on a stationary bike)

• Continuous endurance training

  • 30-50 minutes continuous biking

• Baseline measurements of body fat, waist circumference, VO2 max, triglyceride levels, HDL/LDL cholesterol and inflammatory markers.

• Results: both groups showed statistically similar results in body fat reduction, aerobic/anaerobic capacity, lipid profile and inflammatory markers.

• Conclusion: the sprint interval training protocol can be a time-efficient training method to improve health

TAKE-AWAYS:

• Sprint interval training protocol can be a time-efficient training method to improve health.

• To get benefits of sprinting or higher intensity training you don't need to run, you can choose other methods (in this case a bike but could also use a rower or ski ergometer).

• If you have any health concerns, please consult your Thrive Doctor or another healthcare professional prior to initiating this type of training.

• See additional educational blogs