Effectiveness of Whole-Body High-Intensity Interval Training on Health-Related Fitness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Corentin Scoubeau, Bruno Bonnechère, Miriam Cnop, Vitalie Faoro and Malgorzata Klass
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Corentin Scoubeau: Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Laboratory, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
Bruno Bonnechère: REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Miriam Cnop: ULB Center for Diabetes Research, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
Vitalie Faoro: Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Laboratory, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
Malgorzata Klass: Research Unit in Biometry and Exercise Nutrition, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-28

Abstract: Due to its versatility, whole-body high-intensity interval training (WB-HIIT) can be proposed to the general population and patients to improve health-related fitness. However, its effectiveness compared to traditional aerobic continuous or interval trainings has yet to be determined. A search of four electronic databases was conducted. Studies reporting the effects of WB-HIIT on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), fat mass, fat-free mass, musculoskeletal fitness and metabolic risk factors were included. Standardized mean differences (SMD) between WB-HIIT and no exercise or traditional aerobic trainings were calculated. A meta-regression assessed the effect of total training time on the different outcomes. Twenty-two studies were included in the systematic review and nineteen in the meta-analysis. Compared to no exercise, WB-HIIT improves CRF (SMD: 0.75; 95%CI: 0.28, 1.23; p < 0.001), fat-free mass (SMD: 0.38; 95%CI: 0.11, 0.65; p < 0.001), fat mass (SMD: 0.40; 95%CI: 0.09, 0.72; p < 0.001) and musculoskeletal fitness (SMD: 0.84; 95%CI: 0.61, 1.08; p < 0.001). Compared to other aerobic trainings, WB-HIIT has a lower effect on CRF (SMD: −0.40; 95%CI: −0.70, −0.11; p = 0.007), a similar effect on fat-free mass (SMD: −0.04; 95%CI: −0.44, 0.35; p = 0.8) and fat mass (SMD: −0.07; 95%CI: −0.39, 0.25; p = 0.7), and a larger effect on musculoskeletal fitness (SMD: 0.42; 95%CI: 0.14, 0.71; p = 0.003). WB-HIIT overall effect and specific effect on CRF and fat mass were associated with total training time. The systematic review did not provide evidence of metabolic risk improvement. Despite a slightly lower effect on CRF, WB-HIIT is equally effective as traditional aerobic trainings to improve body composition and more effective to enhance musculoskeletal fitness, which is essential for execution of daily tasks.

Keywords: functional high-intensity training; body composition; musculoskeletal fitness; cardiorespiratory endurance; metabolic risk factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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