Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
Volume 120, Issue 8, Pages 1855-1864Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04416-3
Keywords
Aortic stiffness; Left atrial mechanics; HIIT
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Purpose High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve important health parameters, including aerobic capacity, blood pressure, cardiac autonomic modulation and left ventricular (LV) mechanics. However, adaptations in left atrial (LA) mechanics and aortic stiffness remain unclear. Methods Forty-one physically inactive males and females were recruited. Participants were randomised to either a 4-week HIIT intervention (n = 21) or 4-week control period (n = 20). The HIIT protocol consisted of 3 x 30-s maximal cycle ergometer sprints with a resistance of 7.5% body weight, interspersed with 2-min of active unloaded recovery, three times per week. Speckle tracking imaging of the LA and M-Mode tracing of the aorta was performed pre and post HIIT and control period. Results Following HIIT, there was significant improvement in LA mechanics, including LA reservoir (13.9 +/- 13.4%,p = 0.033), LA conduit (8.9 +/- 11.2%,p = 0.023) and LA contractile (5 +/- 4.5%,p = 0.044) mechanics compared to the control condition. In addition, aortic distensibility (2.1 +/- 2.7 cm(2) dyn(-1) 10(3),p = 0.031) and aortic stiffness index (- 2.6 +/- 4.6,p = 0.041) were improved compared to the control condition. In stepwise linear regression analysis, aortic distensibility change was significantly associated with LA stiffness changeR(2)of 0.613 (p = 0.002). Conclusion A short-term programme of HIIT was associated with a significant improvement in LA mechanics and aortic stiffness. These adaptations may have important health implications and contribute to the improved LV diastolic and systolic mechanics, aerobic capacity and blood pressure previously documented following HIIT.
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