Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2022 Feb;122(2):531-539.
doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04858-3. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Physiological profile comparison between high intensity functional training, endurance and power athletes

P E Adami  1 , J E Rocchi  2 , N Melke  2 , G De Vito  3 , M Bernardi  4 , A Macaluso  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Physiological profile comparison between high intensity functional training, endurance and power athletes

P E Adami et al. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: High intensity functional trainings (HIFT), a recent development of high intensity trainings, includes in the same training session components of endurance exercises, elements of Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting, gymnastics, plyometrics and calisthenics exercises. Therefore, subjects practicing this type of activity are supposed to show physiological features that represent a combination of both endurance and power athletes. The aim of this study was to compare the physiological profile of three groups of age-matched endurance, HIFT and power athletes.

Methods: A total of 30 participants, 18 to 38-year-old men were enrolled in the study. Participants were divided in three groups: HIFT (n = 10), endurance (END, n = 10), and power (POW, weightlifters, n = 10) athletes. All were evaluated for anthropometric characteristics, VO2peak, handgrip, lower limb maximal isometric and isokinetic strength, countermovement vertical jump and anaerobic power through a shuttle run test on the field.

Results: VO2peak/kg was higher in END and HIFT than POW athletes (p = 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively), but there were no significant differences between the first two. POW and HIFT athletes showed significant greater strength at the handgrip, countermovement jump and leg extension/flexion tests than END athletes. HIFT athletes showed highest results at the dynamic isokinetic test, while there were no significant differences at the shuttle run test among groups.

Conclusions: As HIFT reach aerobic levels similar to END athletes and power and strength output similar to POW athletes, it appears that HIFT programs are effective to improve both endurance-related and power-related physical fitness components.

Keywords: CrossFit; Functional exercise; General preparedness programs; High intensity functional training; Physical fitness.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Adami PE, Delussu AS, Rodio A, Squeo MR, Corsi L, Quattrini FM et al (2015) Upper limb aerobic training improves aerobic fitness and all-out performance of America’s Cup grinders. Eur J Sport Sci 15(3):235–241. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2014.971878 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Adami PE, Rocchi JE, Melke N, Macaluso A (2021) Physiological profile of high intensity functional training athletes. J Hum Sport Exerc 16(3):675–688. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2021.163.16 - DOI
    1. Adami PE, Rocchi JE, Melke N, Macaluso A (2022) Physiological comparison between competitive and beginner high intensity functional training athletes. J Hum Sports Exerc. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2022.173.06 (In press) - DOI
    1. Bagley L, McPhee JS, Ganse B, Müller K, Korhonen MT, Rittweger J et al (2019) Similar relative decline in aerobic and anaerobic power with age in endurance and power master athletes of both sexes. Scand J Med Sci Sports 29(6):791–799. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13404 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bassett DR Jr, Howley ET (2000) Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32(1):70–84. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200001000-00012 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources