Neuromuscular adaptations to sixteen weeks of whole-body high-intensity interval training compared to ergometer-based interval and continuous training

The neuromuscular adaptations between ergometer-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT-T; n = 15), whole-body high-intensity interval training (HIIT-WB; n = 12) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT; n = 14) were compared in forty-one healthy men randomized to 16 weeks of training (3x per week). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed countermovement (CMJ) and squat (SJ) jump height (HIIT-T: 8.5 ± 13.3%; 3.1 ± 9.7%, HIIT-WB: 6.4 ± 9.8%, 10.4 ± 16.1% and MICT: 2.2 ± 9.5%; 4.4 ± 12.1%, respectively), SJ peak power (HIIT-T: 1.7 ± 3.9%; HIIT-WB : 6.4 ± 7.9%; MICT: 0.5 ± 6.5%) and CMJ rate of force development (HIIT-T: 58.1 ± 50.5%; HIIT-WB: 36.9 ± 54.2%; MICT: 38.4 ± 64.3%) improved similarly in all training groups (all p < 0.05). CMJ peak power increased only after HIIT-T (4.3 ± 5.5%) and HIIT-WB (4.5 ± 5.2%), while no differences were observed in both the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis maximal electromyographic amplitude. Finally, marked improvements were also observed in the number of repetitions in the HIIT-WB protocol at the eighth week, with no further improvement at the sixteenth week. These data suggest that 16 weeks of HIIT-WB is capable to improve neuromuscular function to a similar extent as HIIT-T and MICT.