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Table 1 Description of high intensity interval training compared to continuous exercise training studies in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

From: Effects of high intensity interval training on exercise capacity in people with chronic pulmonary conditions: a narrative review

 

Study

Type of exercise and population

Interval exercise

Continuous exercise

Frequency

Previous review [39]

aArnadottir [53]

n = 60

2007

Cycling in people with COPD

≥ 80% peak power, followed by 30 to 40% peak power

Duration: 39 min (intervals of 3 min: 3 min)

≥ 65% peak power

Duration: 39 min

2 x per week for 16 weeks

Coppoolse [54]

n = 21

1999

Cycling in people with COPD

90% peak power interspersed with 45% peak power, plus continuous cycling at 60%

Duration: 30 min (intervals of 1 min: 2 min)

60% peak power

Duration: 30 min

5 x per week for 8 weeks

Mador [55]

n = 41

2009

Cycling or treadmill in people with COPD

150% of continuous exercise target interspersed with 75% of target

Duration: 20 to 40 min (intervals of 1 min:

2 min)

50% peak power and at 80% of 6MWT average speed

Duration: 20 to 40 min

3 x per week for 8 weeks

Nasis [56]

n = 42

2009

Cycling in people with COPD

100% peak power and 45% peak power

Duration: 30 to 40 min (intervals of 30 s)

60% peak power

Duration: 30 to 40 min

3 x per week for 10 weeks

a Puhan [57]

n = 98

2006

Cycling in people with COPD

50% peak power of a steep-ramp test, followed by 10% peak power

Duration: 25 min (intervals of 20 s:

40 s)

≥ 70% peak power

Duration: 25 min

5 x per week for 3 weeks

Varga [58]

n = 71

2007

Cycling in people with COPD

50% peak power interspersed with 10% peak power

Duration: 45 min (intervals of 20 s:

40 s)

≥ 70% peak power

Duration: 45 min

3 x per week for 8 weeks

Vogiatzis [30]

n = 36

2002

Cycling in people with COPD

100% peak power and 45% peak power (intervals increased progressively to 140% peak power)

Duration: 40 min (intervals of 30 s)

50% peak power, increasing to 70% by the end of the program

Duration: 40 min

2 x per week for 12 weeks

Vogiatzis [59]

n = 19

2005

Cycling in people with COPD

100% peak power and 45% peak power, (intervals increased progressively to 140% peak power)

Duration: 45 min (intervals of 30 s)

60% peak power, increasing to 70% by the end of the program

Duration: 45 min

3 x per week for 10 weeks

Additional studies

aBrØnstad [60]

n = 20

2013

Uphill treadmill walking in people with COPD

~  90% maximal heart rate (‘work’)

Duration: 38 min (intervals of 4 min: 4 min)

70% maximum heart rate

Duration: 47 min

3 x per week for 10 weeks

Rodriguez [61]

n = 29

2016

Cycling in people with COPD

70 to 100% Wmax (progressively increased over the program), interspersed with 40 to 50% Wmax

Duration: 40 min (intervals of 2 min: 3 min)

60% Wmax

Duration: 40 min

3 x per week for 8 weeks

  1. Abbreviations: 6MWD six minute walk distance, 6MWT six minute walk test, CI confidence interval, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, VO2peak peak rate of oxygen uptake, Wmax maximum work rate. a identifies studies whereby the total work undertaken was unmatched between exercise training programs. The studies by Puhan et al. [57] and Varga et al. [58] report prescribing an intensity equivalent to 50% peak power of a steep-ramp test. This protocol is known to produce much higher maximum work rates than the traditional incremental / ramp protocols. In both studies, the authors clarify that work rates equivalent to 50% of the maximum achieved on this test is the equivalent to ~ 90% of maximum work rate achieved during traditional protocols. Rodriguez at al [61] reported that during the first 2 weeks of the program, cycling at high work rate was set to a minimum of 70% Wmax and was thereafter increased at 5% every week so that by week 3, training was being undertaken at a sufficiently high intensity to be classified as ‘HIIT’