Recent studies of high intensity training (HIT) in different endurance related sports (GIBALA et al. 2007, FAUDE et al. 2008, MacMILLAN 2004) with adult athletes document that HIT leads to similar or even the same physiology adaptations in respectively shorter exercise time compared to high volume training (HVT). Current publications show positive effects on mitochondrial efficiency and lipid metabolism after HIT (DAUSSIN et al 2008). Studies regarding HIT in children are rare. The goal of the study was to compare HIT vs HVT in two different disciplines with different metabolic demands on physiological and performance related parameters in children. METHOD: Two studies in swimming (A, n= 27, 9-12yrs) and soccer (B, n=19, 14 yrs) were conducted: In both studies the participants were divided into two groups in order to compare the effects of HIT vs HVT. A: Before and after the training intervention maximal oxygen uptake and power output at 4 mmol/L lactate (Lac) were assessed. All participants performed a 2km-test, a 100m test with logging of post lactate kinetics as well as a 6x50m interval-test in a 50m pool. B): Before and after the mesocycle maximal oxygen uptake was assessed. All participants performed a 1km run, as well as a 20m, 30m and 40m sprints. Jumping performance was measured in a drop and counter movement jump. RESULT: A): Training: Workload for HIT was set at ~93% of personal best time corresponding to average lactate values of 5.2±1.2 mmol/l Lactate. HVT was set at 83% of personal best time with average lactate values of 2.3±0.5 mmol/l Lactate. HIT training volume was set at 57x50m, 57x100, 15x200m and 3x300m intervals (total: 27,3 km, time per session:60 minutes). HVT training volume was: 89x100m, 62x200m, 53x300m, 19x400m and 4x800m intervals (57,3km, time per session:90 minutes). No statistical differences were found for any physiological variable between the groups. Competition performance showed an increase of 9% for HVT and 14.3% for HIT. B): Mean HR during HIT was 25.3% at 90-100% HRmax, 39.3% at 80-90% HRmax, 20.7% at 70-80% HRmax, 11.6% at 60-70% HRmax and 3.2% <60% HRmax. For HVT HR was set at 0.8% at 90-100%, 27.0% at 80-90% HRmax, 42.5% at70-80 HRmax, 9.7% at 60-70 HRmax and 9.9% below 60% HRmax. Mean Lac-values in HIT were 8.74±3.20mmol/L Lac and 2.17±1.09mmol/l. Oxygen uptake increased depending on recovery time. Summary: The results indicate that HVT is not necessarily beneficial as trainings strategy compared to HIT in swimming and soccer at the age of 9-14 years. In the presented studies, HIT showed similar effects compared to HVT achieved in less training time. The data also reveals performance enhancing effects depending on time of recovery. This saving in time may favor training contents such as technical and strength drills as well as recovery in the long term development of performance.
© Copyright 2009 14th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Oslo/Norway, June 24-27, 2009, Book of Abstracts. Veröffentlicht von The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.