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. 2021 Nov 12:24:100867.
doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100867. eCollection 2021 Dec.

High-intensity interval training in high-school physical education classes: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

André Filipe Paulino da Silva Bento  1 , Luis Carrasco Páez  2 , Armando Manuel de Mendonça Raimundo  1
Affiliations

High-intensity interval training in high-school physical education classes: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

André Filipe Paulino da Silva Bento et al. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. .

Abstract

Background: School and Physical Education classes (PEC) are privileged spaces, promoters of positive changes for the rest of life. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is presented as a time-efficient alternative to aerobic training, as it leverages the number of exercise participants, resulting in improvements in health outcomes. Despite the widespread interest in the advantages that the HIIT methodology reveals, there is a lack of randomized controlled studies investigating the impact on adolescents, mainly adressing adolescents' environment, such as schools. This study aims to evaluate the utility of a HIIT program integrated into high-school PEC, as a strategy that allows students to improve their Physical Fitness, Physical Activity (PA) level, and Motivation for Exercise.

Methods: This study is a two-arm randomized controlled trial design with adolescents from the 10th to 12th grades (15-17 years). The trial will aim to recruit 300 students from 1 secondary school. The HIIT sessions will be applied in the first 10-15 min of each PEC, twice a week, for 16 weeks, ranged from 14 to 20 all-out bouts intervals, adopting a 2:1 work to rest ratio. A cut-point of ≥ 90% of maximal heart rate will be a criterion for satisfactory compliance to high-intensity exercise. A rated perceived exertion scale will be measured in each exercise session to estimate effort, fatigue, and training load. The control group will continue the usual programmed PEC. Study outcomes will be measured at baseline and after the HIIT program. Cardiorespiratory fitness is the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include: muscular fitness, PA and motivation for exercise.

Discussion: HIIT protocols presents wide applicability in PEC and great adaptation to the facilities. The authors aim to provide novel HIIT protocols for schools.

Keywords: Fitness; HIIT; Health; Physical education; Sedentary behaviour.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study design.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Graphical description of an example session.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Graphical description of an example session (couples).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Schedule of assessment and HIIT intervention. (‘) Total work in minutes, (‘’:’’) ration ON:OFF in seconds.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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