The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2021 Mar 26

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12115-2

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Cardiorespiratory responses to acute bouts of high-intensity functional training and traditional exercise in physically active adults

Matthew F. BRISEBOIS ¹ ✉, Kyle D. BIGGERSTAFF ², David L. NICHOLS ²

¹ Department of Human Performance and Health, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC, USA; ² Department of Kinesiology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, USA

BACKGROUND: High-intensity functional training is a popular form of exercise, but little is known about how it compares to more traditional exercise patterns.
METHODS: Thirty healthy, physically active adults (15 males, 15 females) performed a high-intensity functional training workout (HIFT) and a traditional workout (TRAD). Cardiorespiratory responses were measured during and for 15 min after each workout.
RESULTS: Peak heart rate (males: 187 ± 7 vs. 171 ± 10 bpm, p < .001; females: 191 ± 9 vs. 175 ± 6 bpm, p < .001), peak VO2 (males: 3.80 ± 0.58 vs. 3.26 ± 0.60 L/min, p < .001; females: 2.65 ± 0.26 vs. 2.36 ± 0.21, p < .001), and average 15 min recovery VO2 (males: 1.15 ± 0.20 vs. 0.99 ± 0.17 L/min, p < .001; females: 0.77 ± 0.10 vs. 0.71 ± 0.07 L/min, p = .019) were significantly higher in HIFT vs. TRAD. Aerobic energy expenditure was significantly higher in HIFT compared to TRAD in males (9.01 ± 1.43 vs. 8.53 ± 1.38 kcal/min, p = .002) but was not significantly different between the two workouts in females (6.04 ± 0.53 vs. 5.97 ± 0.50 kcal/min, p = .395). Post-exercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher than pre-exercise SBP following both HIFT (males: 124 ± 13 mmHg pre to 154 ± 28 mmHg post, p < .001; females: 110 ± 7 mmHg pre to 140 ± 15 mmHg post, p < .001) and TRAD (males: 124 ± 13 mmHg pre to 142 ± 16 mmHg post, p = .002; females: 112 ± 8 mmHg pre to 123 ± 10 mmHg post, p = .002), however, HIFT led to a greater increase compared to TRAD in females (p = .001). Post-exercise diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was significantly lower than pre-exercise DBP following both HIFT (males: 77 ± 9 mmHg pre to 64 ± 6 mmHg post, p < .001; females: 71 ± 8 mmHg pre to 64 ± 7 mmHg post, p = .011) and TRAD (males: 82 ± 7 mmHg pre to 72 ± 7 mmHg post, p < .001; females: 73 ± 8 mmHg pre to 65 ± 8 mmHg post, p < .001). Mean arterial blood pressure was unchanged following both workouts.
CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity functional training may be an effective form of exercise for caloric expenditure and may elicit greater cardiorespiratory stress than traditional exercise.

KEY WORDS: Energy metabolism; Heart rate; Blood pressure