High Intensity Interval Training Does Not Have Compensatory Effects on Physical Activity Levels in Older Adults

Paolo Bruseghini, Enrico Tam, Elisa Calabria, Chiara Milanese, Carlo Capelli and Christel Galvani
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Paolo Bruseghini: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Enrico Tam: Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Verona, 37131 Verona, Italy
Elisa Calabria: Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Verona, 37131 Verona, Italy
Chiara Milanese: Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Verona, 37131 Verona, Italy
Carlo Capelli: Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Verona, 37131 Verona, Italy
Christel Galvani: Applied Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20162 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Exercise has beneficial effects on older adults, but controversy surrounds the purported “compensatory effects” that training may have on total daily physical activity and energy expenditure in the elderly. We wanted to determine whether 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) induced such effects on physical activity and energy expenditure in healthy, active older adult men. Methods: Twenty-four healthy elderly male volunteers were randomized to two groups. The experimental group performed HIIT (7 × 2 min cycling repetitions, 3 d/w); the control group performed continuous moderate-intensity training (20–30 min cycling, 3 d/w). Physical activity and energy expenditure were measured with a multisensor activity monitor SenseWear Armband Mini. Results: During HIIT, significant changes were observed in moderate and vigorous physical activity, average daily metabolic equivalents (METs), physical activity level, and activity energy expenditure ( p < 0.05) but not in total energy expenditure. Sleep and sedentary time, and levels of light physical activity remained constant during the training period. Conclusions: The findings suggest that HIIT induced no compensatory effect: HIIT does not adversely affect lifestyle, as it does not reduce daily energy expenditure and/or increase sedentary time.

Keywords: ageing; physical activity; high-intensity interval training; energy expenditure; lifestyle; elderly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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