Search Results (2)

The present study aimed to identify changes in echocardiographic parameters before and after three-month high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous moderate-intensity training (CMT) in male employees. For this purpose, using a convenience sampling method, 33 male employees of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (office workers with a sedentary lifestyle) aged 30 through 40 were selected. Participants were divided into three groups of HIIT, CMT, and control (11 for each group) including all anthropometric data (body fat percentage, body mass index, height, weight, and VO₂ max) with no history of chronic diseases, metabolic syndrome, confirmed heart disease or congenital heart defect, and hospitalization due to chronic diseases or consumption of medication affecting cardiovascular indicators. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to compare the groups. The results demonstrated that the end-systolic volumes (ESVs) (p < 0.01) and relative wall thickness (RWT) in the CMT group (p < 0.01) and the end-diastolic volumes (EDVs) (p < 0.01), stroke volumes (SVs) (p < 0.01), end-systolic and diastolic diameters (ESD, EDD) (p < 0.01), as well as the RWT and left ventricle diastolic function (E/A ratio) in the HIIT group (p < 0.05) were significantly different before and after the 12-week training (Bonferroni correction was used for pairwise comparisons). The results revealed a significant increase in the end-systolic diameters (ESDs) of the HIIT group, whereas no such increase was observed in the ESDs of the CMT group (p < 0.51). Moreover, a significant increase was observed in left ventricular (LV) RWT and aerobic power of both training groups. The significant decrease of ESVs and the significant increase in E/A ratio, ESDs, EDDs following HIIT (two to three sessions per week) may indicate beneficial and optimal LV structural adaptations and improved LV function in nonathletes (even with a sedentary lifestyle). Full article

The likelihood of pre-hypertensive young adults developing hypertension has been steadily increasing in recent years. Despite the fact that aerobic exercise training (AET) has demonstrated positive results in lowering high blood pressure, the efficacy of different types of AET among pre-hypertensive young adults has not been well-established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous moderate-intensity training (CMT) on the blood pressure (BP) of physically inactive pre-hypertensive young adults. In total, 32 adults (age 20.0 ± 1.1 years and BMI 21.5 ± 1.8) were randomly assigned to three groups: HIIT, CMT and control (CON). The HIIT and CMT groups participated in 5 weeks of AET, while the CON group followed a DASH diet plan only. The HIIT protocol consisted of a 1:4 min work to rest ratio of participants, at an 80–85% heart rate reserve (HR-reserve) and a 40–60% HR-reserve, respectively, for 20 min; the CMT group exercised at 40–60% of their HR-reserve continuously for 20 min. In both the HIIT and CMT groups, systolic blood pressure (SBP) (3.8 ± 2.8 mmHg, p = 0.002 vs. 1.6 ± 1.5 mmHg, p = 0.011) was significantly reduced, while significant reductions in the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (2.9 ± 2.2 mmHg, p = 0.002) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (3.1 ± 1.6 mmHg, p < 0.0005) were noted only in the HIIT group. No significant differences in SBP (−0.4 ± 3.7 mmHg, p = 0.718), DBP (0.4 ± 3.4 mmHg, p = 0.714), or MAP (0.1 ± 2.5 mmHg, p = 0.892) were observed in the CON group. Both HIIT and CMT decreased BP in physically inactive pre-hypertensive young adults; however, HIIT yielded more beneficial results in terms of reducing the SPB, DBP and MAP. Full article