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The Effects of High-Intensity Training Variations on Biomechanics, Physiology, Biochemistry...
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The Effects of High-Intensity Training Variations on Biomechanics, Physiology, Biochemistry and Performance in Athletes

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025 | Viewed by 5894

Special Issue Editors

Dr. George A. Tsalis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Physical Education and Sports Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: swimming; training and its evaluation in swimming; analysis of technique and its practice in swimming; evaluation of biochemical and physiological parameters in exercise
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Konstantinos Papadimitriou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Metropolitan College of Thessaloniki, University of East London, 54624 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: ergogenic supplements; inflammatory bowel disease; swimming coaching; alternative motor skills learning approaches
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dedication to exercise often incorporates high-intensity training (HIT) variations into people’s periodization plans to maximize health benefits and performance in physical activity trainees and athletes, respectively. Common HIT variations include high-intensity interval training (HIIT), sprint intensity interval training (SIIT), repeated sprint training (RPT), and ultra-short race-pace training (USRPT), among others. These variations differ in volume, interval duration, intensity, repeatability, etc. Therefore, utilizing precise training regimens tailored to the specific needs for promoting health or performance improvement is becoming the gold standard for coaching science.

We invite researchers, coaches, and experts in the field to contribute their valuable insights to this important scientific topic. By exploring the intricate relationship between HIT and various training factors, this Special Issue aims to offer guidance to experts on how they will manage their training periodization. We encourage you to submit original research articles, reviews (narrative, scoping, systematic, and meta-analysis), and case studies to further our collective understanding of this critical area. Your contributions to this Special Issue will undoubtedly provide invaluable knowledge, help bridge gaps in understanding, and offer practical recommendations to enhance the training quality and efficiency.

We look forward to receiving your valuable research.

Dr. George A. Tsalis
Dr. Konstantinos Papadimitriou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • children
  • puberty
  • adults
  • elderly
  • physical activity
  • well-being
  • performance

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 416 KiB  
Article
Effects of Acute Exercise Bouts on Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Runners with Exercise-Induced Hypertension
by Young-Joo Kim, Han-Soo Park, Sang-Hyun Nam, Sang-Hoon Kim, So-Eun Lee, Jae-Hee Choi, Yong-Bum Park and Jin-Ho Yoon
Sports 2025, 13(7), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13070195 - 20 Jun 2025
Viewed by 160
Abstract
Exercise-induced hypertension (EIH) has increasingly been observed among middle-aged long-distance runners, raising concerns about cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to investigate acute changes in cardiovascular biomarkers associated with vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, endothelial function, and myocardial burden in runners with EIH. [...] Read more.
Exercise-induced hypertension (EIH) has increasingly been observed among middle-aged long-distance runners, raising concerns about cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to investigate acute changes in cardiovascular biomarkers associated with vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, endothelial function, and myocardial burden in runners with EIH. Thirty-seven middle-aged male runners (aged 40–65 years) were categorized into a normal blood pressure group (NBPG; systolic blood pressure <210 mmHg, n = 23) and an EIH group (EIHG; ≥210 mmHg, n = 14) based on maximal systolic blood pressure during a graded exercise test (GXT). Participants performed a 30 min treadmill run at 80% heart rate reserve, and blood samples were collected before and after exercise. The biomarkers analyzed included high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). The results show that the EIHG exhibited increased NT-proBNP and SOD levels, along with a reduced NO response, indicating elevated myocardial stress and impaired vasodilation. hs-CRP was positively correlated with multiple hemodynamic indices, and SOD levels were associated with maximal systolic pressure and myocardial burden. These findings highlight the need for individualized monitoring and cardiovascular risk management in runners with EIH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of High-Intensity Training Variations on Biomechanics, Physiology, Biochemistry and Performance in Athletes)
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20 pages, 1241 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Hormonal, Inflammatory, Muscle Damage and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers Changes in Response to High-Intensity Interval, Circuit and Concurrent Exercise Bouts
by Francisco Javier Martínez-Noguera, Linda H. Chung, Amelia Guadalupe-Grau, Silvia Montoro-García and Pedro E. Alcaraz
Sports 2025, 13(6), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13060184 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 819
Abstract
Purpose: Although chronic resting hormonal changes were traditionally considered to modulate muscle tissue remodeling and growth, our knowledge of exercise on the acute post-exercise hormonal response is limited. Moreover, the type of exercise protocol may trigger different hormonal profiles. The aim of this [...] Read more.
Purpose: Although chronic resting hormonal changes were traditionally considered to modulate muscle tissue remodeling and growth, our knowledge of exercise on the acute post-exercise hormonal response is limited. Moreover, the type of exercise protocol may trigger different hormonal profiles. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in muscle damage, as well as hormonal and inflammatory markers following the response to three different resistance training protocols. Methods: A crossover study was conducted in which 33 recreationally active men were randomly assigned to three different training groups: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), concurrent training (CT), and high-intensity resistance circuit (HRC) training. Blood biomarkers were measured by standard procedures at rest, after exercise (P0), 30 min (P1), 24 h (P24), and 48 h (P48) after exercise. Results: Regarding testosterone, the Friedman test detected a significant time × group interaction (p = 0.004), and Durbin–Conover showed higher levels in HRC compared to HIIT at P1 (p = 0.006) and P48 (p = 0.021). However, CT showed higher levels than HIIT (p = 0.008) at P1. Concerning myostatin, there was a trend in the time × group interaction (p = 0.056) with lower values in HRC compared to CT in P1 (p = 0.003), and a trend between HRC and HIIT in P1 (p = 0.056). Conclusions: HRC generates higher levels of testosterone than HIIT in the acute (P1) and late (P48) phases of recovery and produces lower levels of myostatin than CT and HIIT (P1) in the acute phase of recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of High-Intensity Training Variations on Biomechanics, Physiology, Biochemistry and Performance in Athletes)
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17 pages, 8924 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Modified Tabata Training on Segmental Fat Accumulation, Muscle Mass, Muscle Thickness, and Physical and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Overweight and Obese Participants: A Randomized Control Trial
by Tadsawiya Padkao and Piyapong Prasertsri
Sports 2025, 13(4), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13040099 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1445
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in body fat, muscle mass, muscle thickness, and physical and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese individuals following progressive Tabata training. Thirty-six participants were randomly assigned to either the Tabata group (four progressive cycles [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in body fat, muscle mass, muscle thickness, and physical and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese individuals following progressive Tabata training. Thirty-six participants were randomly assigned to either the Tabata group (four progressive cycles of body-weight high-intensity intermittent training at 75–85% of maximum perceived exertion, 3 days/week for 12 weeks) or the control group. Body composition, muscle thickness, strength and endurance, and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) were measured at baseline and after the training period and compared between groups. No changes in body fat percentage and fat mass were found, but the waist-to-hip ratio was lower in the Tabata group (p = 0.043). The muscle mass percentages of the right (p = 0.026) and left legs (p = 0.043) increased, while the muscle thicknesses of the biceps, triceps, rectus femoris, and vastus intermedius were increased in the Tabata group (p < 0.05) to a greater extent than in the control group (p < 0.05). Muscle strength and endurance (p < 0.05), as well as VO2peak (p = 0.006), also increased in the Tabata group. Twelve weeks of modified Tabata training effectively increased muscle mass and thickness and physical and cardiorespiratory fitness, although it did not reduce fat mass in overweight and obese participants. The combination of this training with a dietary intervention may have a more obvious impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of High-Intensity Training Variations on Biomechanics, Physiology, Biochemistry and Performance in Athletes)
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13 pages, 623 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Muscle Performance in Young Soccer Players: Exploring the Impact of Resisted Sprint Training and Its Relationship with Distance Covered
by Felipe Hermosilla-Palma, Juan Francisco Loro-Ferrer, Pablo Merino-Muñoz, Nicolás Gómez-Álvarez, Rodrigo Zacca, Hugo Cerda-Kohler, Ciro Brito, Jorge Pérez-Contreras, Moacyr Portes-Junior and Esteban Aedo-Muñoz
Sports 2025, 13(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13010026 - 20 Jan 2025
Viewed by 2637
Abstract
Background: Speed training with resisted sprints has been shown to positively affect neuromuscular performance in soccer players. Various loads, ranging from 10% to 120% of body mass, have demonstrated performance improvements across the spectrum. However, the impact of sprint distance with optimal load [...] Read more.
Background: Speed training with resisted sprints has been shown to positively affect neuromuscular performance in soccer players. Various loads, ranging from 10% to 120% of body mass, have demonstrated performance improvements across the spectrum. However, the impact of sprint distance with optimal load on these adaptive responses has yet to be thoroughly described. Objective. To analyze the influence of sprint distance in resisted sprints on muscle performance in young soccer players. Methods. This quantitative study utilized a pre-post experimental design. The sample consisted of 24 young soccer players (15.3 ± 0.68 years; 61.4 ± 7.08 kg; 1.60 ± 0.06 m) randomized into three groups (10, 20, and 30 m) and subjected to 12 sessions of resisted sprint training over six weeks. The volume was homogenized across groups, with a total distance of 120 m for each. The intervention’s effect was analyzed through performance in the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), countermovement jump (CMJ), modified 505 agility test (505 m), and linear sprint tests. Differences were analyzed using a mixed ANOVA, incorporating a between-subjects factor (training group) and a within-subjects factor (pre- and post-intervention). Results. Time-dependent differences were observed in all groups for peak force (PF) (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.62), time to PF (TPF) (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.53), impulse at 50 (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.57), 100 (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.60), and 200 ms (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.67) in IMTP; jump height by impulse-momentum (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.64), rate of force development (p = 0.04; η2p = 0.14), yielding impulse (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.49), and concentric impulse (p = 0.01; η2p = 0.19) in CMJ; time (p < 0.001; η2p = 0.46) in 505 m; and average speed in linear sprint (p = 0.003; η2p = 0.36), with moderate to large effect sizes, regardless of the distance covered. No differences were observed for the interaction between the time* and group or between groups. Conclusion. Performance improvements were independent of the sprint distance, with no differences between training groups. Distances between 10 and 30 m may enhance muscle performance in young soccer players. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of High-Intensity Training Variations on Biomechanics, Physiology, Biochemistry and Performance in Athletes)
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