Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption and Substrate Oxidation Following High-Intensity Interval Training: Effects of Recovery Manipulation

Abstract

The recovery manipulation during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may have the potential to modulate the responses of post-exercise energy metabolism. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the type (i.e., passive and active) and duration (i.e., short and long) of the recovery between the intervals in HIIT affect the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and oxidation of fats and carbohydrates during the post-exercise recovery. Eight physically active men performed a maximal incremental test, to determine the peak oxygen consumption (V̇O₂peak) and the first ventilatory threshold (VT), and four HIIT exercise sessions on a treadmill. The HIIT exercise sessions consisted of 5 intervals interspersed with 4 recovery periods; each interval was sustained until exhaustion, and the intensity was set at the V̇O₂peak velocity; recoveries were passive, active (VT velocity), short (2-min), or long (8-min). The HIIT exercise sessions were performed in a random and crossed manner. After the HIIT exercise sessions, EPOC and oxidation of fats and carbohydrates were measured during the 120-min of post-exercise recovery. There were no differences in the EPOC among the exercise sessions (p = 0.56). There were no differences among the exercise sessions in the amount of energy expended on the oxidation of fats (p = 0.78) and carbohydrates (p = 0.91) during the post-exercise recovery. The recovery manipulation during HIIT does not affect the EPOC and post-exercise fat and carbohydrate oxidation. One can choose the type and duration of recovery, knowing that the post-exercise substrate oxidation and EPOC responses will be preserved.

Keywords: Body Weight; Energy Expenditure; Fitness Trends; Respiratory Exchange Ratio.

Figure 1

The data are presented as mean ± SD. Descriptive analysis of the oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) kinetics during the post-exercise (Post-Ex) recovery (a). The V̇O₂ during the pre-exercise (Pre-Ex) and Post-Ex recovery times (b). The excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) (c). SPR: short-passive recovery; LPR: long-passive recovery; SAR: short-active recovery; LAR: long-active recovery. Note: the rest value in the figure “a” is the average of the Pre-Ex values presented in the figure “b”, since there were no differences among them in the Pre-Ex time (26). There was no group effect in the three figures (p > 0.05).

Figure 2

The data are presented as mean ± SD. The blood lactate concentration in the pre-exercise (Pre-Ex) time (a) and immediately after the last interval of the exercise session (b). SPR: short-passive recovery; LPR: long-passive recovery; SAR: short-active recovery; LAR: long-active recovery. There were no differences among the protocols in the two figures (p > 0.05).

Figure 3

The data are presented as mean ± SD. The respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (a) and oxidation of fats (b) and carbohydrates (CHO) (c) during the pre-exercise (Pre-Ex) and post-exercise (Post-Ex) recovery times. SPR: short-passive recovery; LPR: long-passive recovery; SAR: short-active recovery; LAR: long-active recovery. †: different from the Pre-Ex time (p < 0.05). There was no group effect in the three figures (p > 0.05).

Figure 4

The data are presented as mean ± SD. The peak V̇O₂ average of the five intervals (a) and its percentage in relation to the V̇O₂peak of the maximal incremental test (b). V̇O₂: oxygen consumption; V̇O₂peak: peak oxygen consumption; SPR: short-passive recovery; LPR: long-passive recovery; SAR: short-active recovery; LAR: long-active recovery. There were no differences among the protocols in the two figures (p > 0.05).

Figure 5

The data are presented as mean ± SD. The energy expenditure (EE) of the intervals and recoveries that make up the high-intensity interval training sessions (a). The sum of the intervals and recoveries EE values (b). SPR: short-passive recovery; LPR: long-passive recovery; SAR: short-active recovery; LAR: long-active recovery. †: different from the corresponding long recovery (p < 0.05); §: different from the corresponding active recovery (p < 0.05).

Figure 6

The data are presented as mean ± SD. The amount of energy expended on the oxidation of fats (a) and carbohydrates (CHO) (b) during the post-exercise recovery. SPR: short-passive recovery; LPR: long-passive recovery; SAR: short-active recovery; LAR: long-active recovery. There were no differences among the protocols in the two figures (p > 0.05).