High-intensity interval training as an efficacious alternative to moderate-intensity continuous training for adults with prediabetes

Aims. high-intensity interval training (hiit) leads to improvements in various markers of cardiometabolic health but adherence to hiit following a supervised laboratory intervention has yet to be tested. we compared self-report and objective measures of physical activity after one month of independent exercise in individuals with prediabetes who were randomized to hiit (n = 15) or traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (mict,n = 17). method. after completing 10 sessions of supervised training participants were asked to perform hiit or mict three times per week for four weeks. results. individuals in hiit (89 ± 11%) adhered to their prescribed protocol to a greater extent than individuals in mict (71 ± 31%) as determined by training logs completed over one-month follow-up (p = 0.05,cohen's d = 0.75). minutes spent in vigorous physical activity per week measured by accelerometer were higher in hiit (24 ± 18) as compared to mict (11 ± 10) at one-month follow-up (p = 0.049,cohen's d = 0.92). cardiorespiratory fitness and systolic blood pressure assessed at one-month follow-up were equally improved (p 's < 0.05). conclusions. this study provides preliminary evidence that individuals with prediabetes can adhere to hiit over the short-term and do so at a level that is greater than mict. © 2015 mary e. jung et al.