The Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 as a high intensity training tool: Aerobic and anaerobic responses

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) as a high intensity training tool for sedentary university female students. Methods. Baseline measures were recorded for body fat percentage, Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) peak power and mean power, and Yo-Yo IR1 performance. Subjects were matched in pairs for body fat percentage and then randomly allocated to the intervention group (INT) (n = 12) or control group (CON) (n = 13). The INT undertook a 6-week training programme twice a week using the Yo-Yo IR1. The CON undertook no training. Results. The INT increased their Yo-Yo IR1 performance (230 +/- 38 m baseline vs 403 +/- 152 m post-training), WAnT peak power (970 +/- 176 Watts baseline vs 1148 +/- 159 Watts post-training), and WAnT mean power (399 +/- 55 Watts baseline vs 439 +/- 53 Watts post-training) (p<0.05). No changes were observed in the CON (p>0.05). Conclusion. The results of this study show that a 6-week high intensity intermittent training programme using the Yo-Yo IR1 as a training intervention increases both aerobic and anaerobic capacity in a sedentary female population. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.