Effects of a paddling-based high-intensity interval training prescribed using anaerobic speed reserve on sprint kayak performance

The aim of this study was to investigate physiological and performance adaptations to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) prescribed as a proportion of anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) compared to HIIT prescribed using maximal aerobic speed (MAS). Twenty-four highly trained sprint kayak athletes were randomly allocated to one of three 4-weak conditions (N = 8) (ASR-HIIT) two sets of 6 x 60 s intervals at increment %20ASR (MAS-HIIT) six 2 min paddling intervals at 100% maximal aerobic speed (MAS); or controls (CON) who performed six sessions/week of 1-h traditional endurance paddling at 70%-80% maximum HR. A graded exercise test was performed on a kayak ergometer to determine peak oxygen uptake (V?O-2peak), MAS, V?O-2/HR, and ventilatory threshold. Also, participants completed four consecutive upper-body wingate tests to asses peak and average power output. Significant increases in V?O-2peak (ASR-HIIT = 6.9%, MAS-HIIT = 4.8%), MAS (ASR-HIIT = 7.2%, MAS-HIIT = 4.8%), ASR (ASR-HIIT = -25.1%, MAS-HIIT = -15.9%), upper-body Wingate peak power output and average power output (p < 0.05 for both HIIT groups) were seen compared with pre-training. Also, ASR-HIIT resulted in a significant decrease in 500-m - 1.9 % , and 1,000 - m - 1.5 % paddling time. Lower coefficient of variation values were observed for the percent changes of the aforementioned factors in response to ASR-HIIT compared to MAS-HIIT. Overall, a short period of ASR-HIIT improves 500-m and 1,000-m paddling performances in highly trained sprint kayak athletes. Importantly, inter-subject variability (CV) of physiological adaptations to ASR-HIIT was lower than MAS-HIIT. Individualized prescription of HIIT using ASR ensures similar physiological demands across individuals and potentially facilitates similar degrees of physiological adaptation.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological and performance adaptations to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) prescribed as a proportion of anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) compared to HIIT prescribed using maximal aerobic speed (MAS). The results showed that ASR-HIIT significantly improved athletes' peak oxygen uptake, maximal aerobic speed, anaerobic speed reserve, upper-body Wingate peak power output and average power output. Additionally, ASR-HIIT also significantly reduced the paddling time for 500m and 1000m. Compared to MAS-HIIT, ASR-HIIT exhibited lower variability in physiological adaptations.