Comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport-specific techniques in well-trained soccer players

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the uniformity of adaptive changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power to high-intensity interval interventions (HIIT) designed using techniques specified for soccer players. Thirty well-trained athletes (age = 25 ± 3.1 years; body mass = 82.4 ± ...

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Main Authors: Hongjun Zhang, Sheng Li, Bingyuan Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88531-1
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author Hongjun Zhang
Sheng Li
Bingyuan Yang
author_facet Hongjun Zhang
Sheng Li
Bingyuan Yang
author_sort Hongjun Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aimed to investigate the uniformity of adaptive changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power to high-intensity interval interventions (HIIT) designed using techniques specified for soccer players. Thirty well-trained athletes (age = 25 ± 3.1 years; body mass = 82.4 ± 3.4 kg; height = 183 ± 2.1 cm) were randomly assigned to two experimental groups engaging in interval intervention individualized using 30–15 Intermittent Fitness Test [HIITvIFT (two sets of 5–8 min intervals, comprising 15 s of running at 95% of VIFT followed by 15 s of passive recovery)], and small-sided game with matched timing (SSG [4 sets of 2.5–4 min 3 v 3 efforts]), as well as an active control group. Before and after a 6-week intervention consisting of three sessions per week, participants underwent a lab-based cardiorespiratory fitness test using breath-by-breath gas analyzer and non-invasive impedance cardiography to evaluate aerobic fitness and cardiac function measures. Also, anaerobic power was measured using lower-body Wingate test. Both interventions resulted in significant enhancement in all measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power over the training period. Analyzing inter-individual variability through determining residuals in individual changes indicated HIITvIFT results in residuals in individual changes in ventilatory threshold (VT [first (VT1) and second (VT2)]), and peak and average power output than SSG (p = 0.02, 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively). In addition, the change in maximum oxygen uptake, maximal ventilation, and average power output following HIITvIFT was notably greater than SSG (p = 0.002, 0.006, and, 0.019, respectively). There was no significant difference between HIITvIFT and SSG in cardiac hemodynamics (cardiac output and stroke volume). Overall, by facilitating more homogenous stress, HIITvIFT results in more identical physiological demands and more uniform adaptations in ventilatory threshold and anaerobic power than SSG.
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spelling doaj-art-82eb3b1f6cb44fea95592da9f97104802025-02-09T12:30:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-88531-1Comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport-specific techniques in well-trained soccer playersHongjun Zhang0Sheng Li1Bingyuan Yang2Department of Physical Education, Shanxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Xiamen UniversityPhysical Education Institute, Shanxi UniversityAbstract This study aimed to investigate the uniformity of adaptive changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power to high-intensity interval interventions (HIIT) designed using techniques specified for soccer players. Thirty well-trained athletes (age = 25 ± 3.1 years; body mass = 82.4 ± 3.4 kg; height = 183 ± 2.1 cm) were randomly assigned to two experimental groups engaging in interval intervention individualized using 30–15 Intermittent Fitness Test [HIITvIFT (two sets of 5–8 min intervals, comprising 15 s of running at 95% of VIFT followed by 15 s of passive recovery)], and small-sided game with matched timing (SSG [4 sets of 2.5–4 min 3 v 3 efforts]), as well as an active control group. Before and after a 6-week intervention consisting of three sessions per week, participants underwent a lab-based cardiorespiratory fitness test using breath-by-breath gas analyzer and non-invasive impedance cardiography to evaluate aerobic fitness and cardiac function measures. Also, anaerobic power was measured using lower-body Wingate test. Both interventions resulted in significant enhancement in all measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power over the training period. Analyzing inter-individual variability through determining residuals in individual changes indicated HIITvIFT results in residuals in individual changes in ventilatory threshold (VT [first (VT1) and second (VT2)]), and peak and average power output than SSG (p = 0.02, 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively). In addition, the change in maximum oxygen uptake, maximal ventilation, and average power output following HIITvIFT was notably greater than SSG (p = 0.002, 0.006, and, 0.019, respectively). There was no significant difference between HIITvIFT and SSG in cardiac hemodynamics (cardiac output and stroke volume). Overall, by facilitating more homogenous stress, HIITvIFT results in more identical physiological demands and more uniform adaptations in ventilatory threshold and anaerobic power than SSG.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88531-1Aerobic powerTeam sportIndividual adaptationsCardiorespiratory fitnessAnaerobic power
spellingShingle Hongjun Zhang
Sheng Li
Bingyuan Yang
Comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport-specific techniques in well-trained soccer players
Scientific Reports
Aerobic power
Team sport
Individual adaptations
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Anaerobic power
title Comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport-specific techniques in well-trained soccer players
title_full Comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport-specific techniques in well-trained soccer players
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport-specific techniques in well-trained soccer players
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport-specific techniques in well-trained soccer players
title_short Comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport-specific techniques in well-trained soccer players
title_sort comparative analysis of consistency of adaptations to interval interventions individualized using sport specific techniques in well trained soccer players
topic Aerobic power
Team sport
Individual adaptations
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Anaerobic power
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88531-1
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AT shengli comparativeanalysisofconsistencyofadaptationstointervalinterventionsindividualizedusingsportspecifictechniquesinwelltrainedsoccerplayers
AT bingyuanyang comparativeanalysisofconsistencyofadaptationstointervalinterventionsindividualizedusingsportspecifictechniquesinwelltrainedsoccerplayers