Interval or “Short Burst” Training

So, for those who know me, you are overwhelmingly aware that I am one of those weird ducks that actually ENJOYED distance running. For over 40 years I would take to the trails, roads or beach for 30-90 minute interludes. I enjoyed the sweat, calorie burn and conditioning, not to mention that it would afford me the ability to eat whatever my heart desired, without gaining weight...which in my more youthful days was actually annoying as I hated being skinny! Wow, what a difference a decade makes! Now, I follow a regimen that is fairly healthy during the week, and then cheat (sometimes REALLY cheat) on the weekends. Yes, about twice a year, one might be very surprised to see even me at a Varsity restaurant!

But as for my exercising routine, I have made some drastic changes since I’m not as durable as I once could claim. I started doing P90X a few years ago, and enjoyed the results. Then, I tried INSANITY and ended up getting an epidural steroid injection! There was a bit too much plyometrics for my liking. Then, I started reading articles like the one below and my personal paradigm of exercise shifted dramatically!  (I planned on penning my own personal article, but thought that Ms. Schwager did a very nice job in communicating my heart on the subject).  Not only is my workout time shorter, but I don’t feel like I’m beating myself up! Don’t get me wrong, the burst training, if done correctly, will wear your bottom out!! I do a combination of spinning, jumping jacks, squats, push-ups and rope skipping, HARD, for 20 second intervals, followed by a 20 second rest, for 8 sets, using a TABATA-LITE AP on my phone as a timer (as you will see in the article below, there can be variations in the routine). Then, I will follow up with a yoga stretch routine. This has worked for me the past two years.  As with any exercise routine, however, you want to be given a green light by your doctor and begin easily, i.e. not as many repetitions in a set, or as many sets. Ultimately, I want to encourage people to exercise for better endurance, flexibility, and weight loss, as well as the added benefit of endorphin (happy hormone) release. In my line of work as a pre-mortem body mechanic (think about that), I cannot stress enough the need to have some semblance of regular exercise activity (including EACH of flexibility, endurance and strengthening) so that visits to me are at a minimum. May your day be greatly blessed!  

 

Short-Burst Training

by Tina Schwager

Ex Rx: High-intensity, short-duration interval workouts are a new frontier in fitness and sports training.

When you’re a sports fan, it doesn’t matter if you prefer the NBA, figure skating or the Olympics—you’re sure to admire the performances of athletes who work inconceivably hard to achieve greatness. It’s practically impossible to watch without feeling compelled to hit the gym and try some new training method, hoping to achieve your own gold-medal performance. So what’s the latest buzz in the training room?

It’s short-burst training (SBT), a variation of circuit training. SBT uses a series of high-intensity, short-duration exercises interspersed with brief periods of lower-intensity movement (www.exercisegoals.com). Clients go all-out for intervals of 30–60 seconds (depending on the intensity level and the equipment/apparatus used for training) before entering the recovery phase. This pattern repeats throughout the workout. The intent is to utilize the anaerobic energy system, long thought to be the exclusive realm of sprinters and court athletes whose movements are too brief and powerful to engage the oxygen pathways of the cardiovascular system (Smith 2002). During short-burst exercise, the body produces metabolic byproducts (hydrogen ions) that have been identified as the cause of acidosis (“the burn”). The cardiovascular exercise following the short burst of anaerobic exercise helps to neutralize or buffer this acidosis. The primary fuel used is carbohydrate (Smith 2002), with stored fat kicking in later.

By contrast, traditional endurance training keeps the body moving longer at more moderate intensity levels, with the aerobic system maintaining function. The primary energy sources are carbohydrate and fat (Smith 2002). There is abundant research verifying the physiological adaptations attributed to endurance training, especially improved exercise capacity—the body’s ability to “sustain a given sub-maximal workload for a longer period of time” (Gibala et al. 2006). For many exercisers, the rewards include improved cardiovascular function; decreased incidence of diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension; weight loss; and reduction of body fat. And those training for competitive sports count on aerobic training to gain needed stamina.

Fat Burning

In old-school thinking, accessing fat both stored and free-floating in the bloodstream required endurance-type “aerobic” training. Aerobic means “with oxygen,” and the physiological pathway initiated in the presence of oxygen utilizes fat for fuel, making it the superior choice. But recent research opens the door for a new theory—that high-intensity training is even more effective. One such study compared the effect of a 20-week endurance-training program with that of a 15-week high-intensity program in terms of body fat loss and muscle metabolism.

Researchers found a larger reduction in subcutaneous fat in the high-intensity group, despite noting that the total energy cost between the two groups indicated higher caloric expenditure for the endurance group. Furthermore, “when corrected for the energy cost . . . the reduction induced by the high-intensity program was nine-fold greater than the endurance program” (Smith 2002).

Another study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, measured skeletal muscle fuel content, fatty-acid transport proteins, and hormonal and other responses in women after a 2-week SBT program. Results indicated that “seven sessions of SBT over 2 weeks induced marked increases in whole body and skeletal muscle capacity for fatty acid oxidation during exercise in moderately active women” (Talanian 2006).

Traditional aerobic training is also praised for improving the body’s efficiency at burning stored fat once activity ceases, a phenomenon termed excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, or EPOC. But more and more studies are showing that the EPOC created by high-intensity training induces a response that renders the body even more efficient at burning fuel. For example, a 1996 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise comparing endurance- and interval-trained subjects showed that “the interval group burned more fat during exercise . . . [and] exhibited increased fat burning effects that persisted for 24 hours after the exercise had stopped” (Treuth, Hunter & Williams 1996).

In a 2001 study, researchers compared two groups, one exercising aerobically and the other using interval training. Both groups burned exactly 300 calories, but despite exercising longer, “the aerobic group lost less body fat” (King et al. 2001).

[Editor’s Note: See this month’s Making News column for more on post-exercise fat metabolism.]

Endurance Benefits

Training in the “target zone” (65%–85% of one’s maximum heart rate) for an extended duration (20 minutes minimum) at least 3–5 times a week is an age-old exercise formula. However, that formula was challenged in 1995, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) convened to re-evaluate physical activity recommendations for the general public. The panel determined that “every U.S. adult should accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity” almost every day (Pate et al. 1995). This opened the door for beginners to add small increments of activity to their day and still improve their fitness levels. In line with this physical activity model, data now being accumulated with regard to short-burst training definitely support shorter bouts of intermittent activity.

Then there is a 2005 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. The subjects, who were not athletes, did a 2-week SBT program and were then retested. The result? Their endurance level, a direct measure of cardiorespiratory fitness, had actually doubled (Burgomaster et al. 2005).

Time Efficiency

In today’s world, time is precious. So if something can be accomplished faster, who wouldn’t do it? Traditional training is long, slow and time-consuming. SBT is not only effective, but markedly so in a significantly shorter period of time. Numerous studies demonstrate that, in terms of body fat, weight loss and fitness-related gains, subjects performing SBT for minimal time periods achieved more than endurance-trained subjects despite the overall training time being much less.

In a study by Gibala et al. (2006), six sessions of high-intensity, low-volume interval training and six of high-volume endurance training were compared for their effect on “muscle oxidative capacity, muscle buffering capacity and exercise performance.” Between the two groups, researchers noted significant differences in both training volume (approximately 90% less for the interval group) and time commitment (around 2.5 hours with intervals versus 10.5 hours with endurance training over 2 weeks), yet the resulting physiological changes were similar. While the authors cautioned that further research was needed, their findings suggest that “SBT is a time-efficient strategy to induce rapid adaptations in skeletal muscle and exercise performance” (Gibala 2006).

Another study, published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, showed interval-trained groups achieving significant improvements in EPOC and calorie/ fat burning during exercise. And these benefits were achieved with an “exercise session that was a full 15 minutes shorter than the aerobic group” (Treuth, Hunter & Williams 1996).

The Ramifications

With so much evidence favoring short-burst training, should we hang up our indoor cycling gear and list our stair-climbing machines on eBay? Not so fast. SBT has its perks, but the benefits of traditional training cannot be denied. Some people actually seek the solace and rhythm of long, slow, distance training—e.g., an hour long aerobics class, precious reading time on the treadmill, an extended Sunday morning hill run. Studies may suggest that SBT gives superior results, but it’s all a matter of time: SBT garners much quicker results from significantly shorter training sessions, while traditional training effects take longer to achieve. Bottom line—are your clients in a hurry?

If you’re looking for a quick fix, athleticism or better competitive sports performance, SBT is a good choice. But if you’re training for a cross-country ski trip or long-distance bike race, traditional endurance training is still needed. As one researcher states, “The present data should not be interpreted to suggest that SBT is necessarily adequate for prolonged endurance type activities” (Gibala 2006). On the flip side, however, Mark Smith, PhD, an applied physiologist and the program director for X-iser Industries, in Southlake, Texas, reminds us that high-caliber endurance athletes do not train by distance alone: “Looking at elite endurance athletes like marathoners, people don’t realize that 50%, and sometimes as much as 75%, of their training is actually high-intensity intervals.”

What about exercise difficulty? As trainers, our job is motivating and educating our clientele, and they’ll usually work hard for their results. But there’s a fine line between time efficiency and movement quality. If a training technique is performed incorrectly or is so high in intensity that a person can’t keep up, results won’t come and injury potential will increase. Exercise science professor Stuart Biddle, PhD, of Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England, notes, “You have to strike a compromise between physiology and psychology. The harder you make it, the fewer people will actually do it” (BBC News 2006).

Smith disagrees: “When exercise clients are in control of their intensity, they tend to be self-limiting. A minute is the magic number for a human to go all-out. I tell clients, ‘Give me a good honest effort. If you need to stop short of our goal in terms of time, it’s okay.’’ With SBT, the higher the intensity is, the shorter the duration and the longer the recovery periods between intervals. So, in essence, the danger of injury from overuse may decrease compared with what can happen with continuous, repetitive exercises.

Getting in shape is a journey, not a destination. And the best journeys are ever-changing. Recreational exercisers should strive to achieve not only sleeker thighs, but also a long-term love of movement and activity, regardless of its form. The beauty of fitness and sports training is that there is no one “right way” to train. Keeping the workouts fresh leads to a constant renewal of your clients’ commitment to good health and well-being. And that, above all, is the key to success.

SIDEBAR: Incorporating Short-Burst Training

The easiest way to incorporate SBT into program design is to gradually replace the lengthy cardio session with short 60-second burst intervals. Between these high-intensity, short- duration bouts, perform the strengthening, therapeutic, stretching and muscle-balancing exercises you are currently doing (these become “corrective” or recovery exercises) for a 4-minute recovery. Here is an example:

·         brief warm-up

·         60-second bout of SBT on the treadmill (use an incline as needed to achieve maximum intensity), on the stationary bike or doing whole-body exercises (squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups, etc.)

·         4-minute recovery (doing corrective exercises such as stretching, weight machines, dumbbells or other muscle isolation exercises)

·         two 30-second bouts of SBT on a stationary bike, with a 30-second recovery between bouts

Repeat the full routine until a total of 4–6 minutes of burst training has been done.

When it comes to intensity, perceived exertion is the best guideline. Clients will limit themselves and push only as hard as they are comfortable pushing. When cued to do their best, they will give their own maximal effort in each interval. Therefore, a good rate of perceived exertion to follow is to have participants sustain their chosen intensity, with good form and body control, for the time you select.

When using a treadmill, burst intervals should be lower intensity and longer duration, to maintain safety. On a stationary bike or when doing full-body activities such as lunges, squats or core work, the intensity can be pushed much higher, making for a shorter interval. As a general rule, with SBT go for quality, not quantity. Intensity is the key ingredient.

SIDEBAR: Health Benefits of Short-Burst Training

Health is a big motivator for people to exercise: clients want to lose weight, counteract a poor family history, maintain healthy functioning or simply follow their doctor’s orders to become more fit.

The science behind SBT shows that it is extremely effective in all these areas (just as traditional training is); plus, it provides benefits that help clients recover from health crises such as cardiac events, pulmonary problems, cancer diagnoses and orthopedic surgery (as always, be sure any special-population clients get a physician’s clearance before working with you).

·         Exercise intensity had a “13.3 times greater effect on systolic blood pressure, a 2.8 times greater effect on diastolic blood pressure, and a 4.7 times greater effect on waist circumference in men” than did exercise duration (Williams 1998).

·         High-density lipoprotein levels (good cholesterol) increased significantly as a result of intermittent—but not continuousexercise (Smith 2002; Williams 1998).

·         SBT is also an effective means of reducing stress and achieving a positive mood state. The phenomenon known as “runner’s high” has previously been attributed to endurance training lasting longer than 1 hour. Beta-endorphins, the chemicals responsible for elevated mood states, were found to increase at statistically significant levels following “incremental graded and short term anaerobic exercise, the extent correlating with the lactate concentration.” (Smith 2002; Williams 1998).

·         A 2007 study published in Circulation assessed the effectiveness of high-intensity training on patients who had suffered from heart failure. The results indicated that exercise intensity was “an important factor for reversing LV [left ventricular] remodeling, improving aerobic capacity, . . . and quality of life in patients with postinfarction heart failure.” The ramifications of this “suggest that training programs based on these principles may yield more favorable results than those with low to moderate exercise intensities” (Wisløff et al. 2007).

• References

BBC News. 2006. Walking “not enough to get fit.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5371116.stm; retrieved Jan. 21, 2009.

Burgomaster, K.A., et al. 2005. Six sessions of sprint interval training increases muscle oxidative potential and cycle endurance capacity in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 98, 1985–90.

Gibala, M.J., et al. 2006. Short-term sprint interval versus traditional endurance training: Similar initial adaptations in human skeletal muscle and exercise performance. Journal of Physiology, 575 (3), 901–11.

King, J., et al. 2001. A comparison of high-intensity vs. low-intensity exercise on body composition in overweight women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 33 (5, Suppl. 1), S228.

Pate, R.R., et al. 1995. Physical activity and public health: A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 273 (5), 402–407.

Smith, M.J. 2002. Sports conditioning—a comparison: Moderate-intensity continuous activity and high-intensity intermittent activity. www.xiser.com; retrieved Jan. 21, 2009.

Talanian, J., et al. 2006. Two weeks of high-intensity aerobic interval training increases the capacity for fat oxidation during exercise in women. Journal of Applied Physiology, 102, 1439–47.

Treuth, M.S., Hunter, G.R., & Williams, M. 1996. Effects of exercise intensity on 24-h energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 28 (9), 1138–43.

Williams, P.T. 1998. Relationships of heart disease risk factors to exercise quantity and intensity. Archives of Internal Medicine, 158 (3), 237–45.

Wisløff, U., et al. 2007. Superior cardiovascular effect of aerobic interval training versus moderate continuous training in heart failure patients: A randomized study. Circulation, 115, 3068–94.

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