Effects of 3-Week Work-Matched High-Intensity Intermittent Cycling Training with Different Cadences on VO2max in University Athletes

Abstract

The aim of this study is to clarify the effects of 3-week work-matched high-intensity intermittent cycling training (HIICT) with different cadences on the VO_2max of university athletes. Eighteen university athletes performed HIICT with either 60 rpm (n = 9) or 120 rpm (n = 9). The HIICT consisted of eight sets of 20 s exercise with a 10 s passive rest between each set. The initial training intensity was set at 135% of VO_2max and was decreased by 5% every two sets. Athletes in both groups performed nine sessions of HIICT during a 3-week period. The total workload and achievement rate of the workload calculated before experiments in each group were used for analysis. VO_2max was measured pre- and post-training. After 3 weeks of training, no significant differences in the total workload and the achievement rate of the workload were found between the two groups. VO_2max similarly increased in both groups from pre- to post-training (p = 0.016), with no significant differences between the groups (p = 0.680). These results suggest that cadence during HIICT is not a training variable affecting the effect of VO_2max.

Keywords: aerobic capacity; graded-exercise test; total workload.

Figure 1

Change of VO_2max from pre- to post-training in 60 rpm and 120 rpm. Each line represents the change for an individual participant. Bars are the average value for all participants. Error bars are the standard deviation. * p < 0.05 vs pre-training in each group. 60 rpm: high-intensity intermittent cycling training with 60 rpm; 120 rpm: high-intensity intermittent cycling training with 120 rpm.