Effects of high-intensity interval training on lean mass, strength, and power of the lower limbs in healthy old and young people

Affiliations

• Keizo Asami Immunopathology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.

• Pós Graduação em Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.

• Pós Graduação em Neuropsiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.

• Serviço de Nefrologia do Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.

• Núcleo de Ciências da Vida, Centro Acadêmico do Agreste, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Caruaru, Brazil.

• PMID: 37829114

• PMCID: PMC10565117

• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1223069

Abstract

Introduction: Whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can improve lean mass, strength, and power of the lower limbs in young and older people is still under discussion. This study aimed to determine the effect of HIIT on lean mass, maximal strength, rate of force development (RFD), and muscle power of both lower limbs in healthy young and older adults. Secondarily, to compare the effects of HIIT between dominant vs. non-dominant lower limbs of each group.

Materials and methods: Healthy older (n = 9; 66 ± 6 years; BMI 27.1 ± 3.1 kg m^-2 ) and young (n = 9; 21 ± 1 years; BMI 26.2 ± 2.8 kg m^-2 ) men underwent 12 weeks of HIIT (3x/week) on a stationary bicycle. The evaluations were made before and after the HIIT program by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), anthropometry, force transducer and, Sit-to-Stand test. The outcomes analyzed were limb lean mass, thigh circumference, maximal voluntary isometric strength, RFD (Time intervals: 0-50, 50-100, 100-200, and 0-200 ms), and muscle power in both lower limbs.

Results: After 12 weeks of HIIT, non-dominant limb (NDL) showed increase in limb lean mass (p < 0.05) but without interaction (time*group). HIIT showed a gain in absolute maximal strength and also when adjusted for thigh circumference in the dominant lower limb (DL) in both groups. The RFD_{0-200 ms} showed differences between groups but without interaction. The RFD_{0-50 ms} of the NDL showed post-training improvements (p < 0.05) in both groups. Only the older group showed differences between DL vs. NDL in most of the RFD obtained post-intervention. In addition, post-HIIT muscle power gain was observed in both groups (p < 0.05), but mainly in older adults.

Conclusion: HIIT promotes increases in lean mass, maximal strength, early RFD, and lower limb muscle power in healthy older and young individuals. The differences shown between the DL and the NDL must be analyzed in future studies.

Figure 1: Representation of the raw force output onset in Newton (N) obtained during knee extension (thumbnail image on the right). The figure shows the rate of force development in the different intervals in milliseconds (ms).

Figure 2: Effects of HIIT training on rate of force development (RFD). Each time interval was expressed on the graph (0–50, 50–100, 100–200, and 0–200 ms). Panel A shows the values of the dominant lower limb at each RFD interval. Panel B shows the values of the non-dominant lower limb in each RFD interval. The graphs are presented in mean and standard deviation. The symbol * denotes time effect with p < 0.05, and # denotes group effect with p < 0.05.

Figure 3: Effects of HIIT training on sit to stand power muscle. The graphs are presented in mean and standard deviation. The symbol * denotes time effect with p < 0.05, and # denotes group effect with p < 0.05

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