ORIGINAL ARTICLE  OTHER AREAS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2021 June;61(6):867-73

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11352-5

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Acute effects of high-intensity interval training on cognition and retinal microcirculation in experienced amateur boxers

Rima SOLIANIK ^{1, 2} ✉, Vidas BRUŽAS ³, Pranas MOCKUS ³, Kazys VADOPALAS ², Vytautas STRECKIS ¹

¹ Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania; ² Department of Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania; ³ Department of Coaching Science, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania

BACKGROUND: Limited and contradictory data are available regarding the acute effects of endurance exercises on cognition and retinal microcirculation. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the acute effects of sport-specific high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cognition and retinal vessel diameters in experienced amateur boxers.
METHODS: Eleven young (age 22.8±2.9 years) men with 10.7±4.8 years of boxing experience completed two sessions in random order: high-intensity intermittent punching load and passive rest. Cardiovascular response, retinal vessel diameters, and cognitive performance were evaluated at baseline, during exercise, and immediately after each session.
RESULTS: Increased heart rate during intermittent punching load (P<0.05) reaching 91.2±3.7% of the maximal heart rate was observed. The HIIT improved cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control (P<0.05), while the working memory and motor speed were not affected. Significant dilatation of temporal retinal venules (P<0.05) was observed after the HIIT compared with the values before the HIIT, resulting in a decreased arteriolar-to-venular diameter ratio (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: At the functional level, an improvement in executive function due to intermittent high intensity punching load was observed, while at the physiological level, retinal venular dilatation was observed in experienced amateur boxers.

KEY WORDS: Cardiovascular system; Exercise; Sports; Executive function; High-intensity interval training; Retinal vessel