The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training Cooperated with Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation (rPMS) on Sport Physical Performance and Blood Chemistry Level in Male Team Sport Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Health-related physical fitness is relevant to health promotion, but adjunctive technologies should be evaluated within the populations studied. This randomized controlled trial examined whether repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) after repeated sprint high intensity interval training (HIIT) provided additional benefits in 52 healthy male collegiate football and futsal athletes aged 18–24 years. Participants were randomized 1:1 to HIIT + rPMS or HIIT alone for six weeks. Relative quadriceps strength was the prespecified primary outcome. HIIT + rPMS produced a greater improvement in relative quadriceps strength (mean difference in change, 0.16 kg·kg⁻¹; 95% CI, 0.09–0.22; p < 0.001; Hedges’ g = 1.35), which remained robust in baseline-adjusted sensitivity analysis. Fixed-load knee-extension repetitions-to-failure performance also improved more (2.12 repetitions; 95% CI, 1.17–3.06; p < 0.001), although this may partly reflect the greater strength gain because the same absolute load was retained at week 6. No between-group difference was supported for hamstring strength or serum IGF-1. The nominal estimated VO₂max difference (p = 0.0498) was not robust to sensitivity analyses and was considered inconclusive. Because no sham-rPMS condition was used, the observed differences cannot be attributed exclusively to magnetic stimulation. Further sham-controlled studies are required before broader health promotion or public health application.