High Intensity Interval training: cumulative fatigue and implications in the prescription for physical reconditioningThesis by Jaume Lloria Varella

Supervisors:  Thierry BUSSO (LIBM) - Juan MURIAS (University of Calgary) - Jérôme Koral (LIBM)

Moderate-intensity physical exercise is generally recommended in cases of significant deconditioning caused by poor physical activity or the state of health. Nevertheless, results can be quite variable.

High intensity interval training has been shown to be a very effective method of rapidly improving fitness. However, this method is not recommended in the case of significant deconditioning because of the high demand of the effort.

Its possible prescription requires a better understanding of its negative effects in order to specify the optimal doses. The fact of accumulating high-intensity loads could lead to a plateau on the adaptations or even to deleterious effects on the general condition.

This project aims to characterize how fatigue accumulates as a function of the duration, frequency and exposure to this type of efforts and its consequences on the dose-effect relationship. The cumulative fatigue will be quantified from the recovery of the high-intensity interval sessions which will be principally evaluated from the measurement of neuromuscular function and from the reactivation of the parasympathetic system.

The final goal is to establish how to adapt the workloads (dose, frequency, duration) and to propose monitoring methods to readjust and personalize the workloads during the reconditioning program using high intensity interval training.

Contract duration: 10/2020 to 09/2023