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. 2017 Nov;47(11):2363-2374.
doi: 10.1007/s40279-017-0753-8.

High-Intensity Interval Training Interventions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

William T B Eddolls  1 , Melitta A McNarry  2 , Gareth Stratton  2   3 , Charles O N Winn  2 , Kelly A Mackintosh  2
Affiliations

High-Intensity Interval Training Interventions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

William T B Eddolls et al. Sports Med. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Whilst there is increasing interest in the efficacy of high-intensity interval training in children and adolescents as a time-effective method of eliciting health benefits, there remains little consensus within the literature regarding the most effective means for delivering a high-intensity interval training intervention. Given the global health issues surrounding childhood obesity and associated health implications, the identification of effective intervention strategies is imperative.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to examine high-intensity interval training as a means of influencing key health parameters and to elucidate the most effective high-intensity interval training protocol.

Methods: Studies were included if they: (1) studied healthy children and/or adolescents (aged 5-18 years); (2) prescribed an intervention that was deemed high intensity; and (3) reported health-related outcome measures.

Results: A total of 2092 studies were initially retrieved from four databases. Studies that were deemed to meet the criteria were downloaded in their entirety and independently assessed for relevance by two authors using the pre-determined criteria. From this, 13 studies were deemed suitable. This review found that high-intensity interval training in children and adolescents is a time-effective method of improving cardiovascular disease biomarkers, but evidence regarding other health-related measures is more equivocal. Running-based sessions, at an intensity of >90% heart rate maximum/100-130% maximal aerobic velocity, two to three times a week and with a minimum intervention duration of 7 weeks, elicit the greatest improvements in participant health.

Conclusion: While high-intensity interval training improves cardiovascular disease biomarkers, and the evidence supports the effectiveness of running-based sessions, as outlined above, further recommendations as to optimal exercise duration and rest intervals remain ambiguous owing to the paucity of literature and the methodological limitations of studies presently available.

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Conflict of interest statement

Funding

William Eddolls, Melitta McNarry and Kelly Mackintosh were supported by Commando Joe’s Fun and Fitness Ltd. The funders had no role in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the manuscript or submission of the article for publication.

Conflict of interest

William Eddolls, Melitta McNarry, Gareth Stratton, Charles Winn and Kelly Mackintosh have no conflicts of interest directly relevant to the content of this review.

Ethics approval

Approval to conduct this research was granted by Swansea University A-STEM Ethical Advisory Committee.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Phases of study selection during data collection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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