Interval training is a concept and a practice wherein a person works out at a medium to high intensity for a specified period of time or distance and then reduces the exercise intensity for an equal period of time or distance. Such an exercise regimen several sets at varying levels of exercise intensity. Advocates of interval training contend that the greatest changes in body physiology occur during the high intensity intervals, as the body responds to the applied stress. The increased physiological benefits that result from the high intensity exercise intervals produce training benefits equal to those produced by a steady or continuous lower-intensity training session that extends over a much longer time period than is required in an interval training session (21). A 1997 study found, however, that no increased benefits accrued from higher intensity training at intervals (1). This debate holds relevance for both high-performance athletes and ordinary people desiring to maintain acceptable levels of fitness.
A 1997 study found that splitting training tasks into intervals or repetitions will increase the amount of oxygen consumed and needed to be repaid after each unit when compared to performing the same distance at the same workload in a continuous or steady exercise regimen. Intermittent, or interval, training tasks were found to place a greater load on the oxygen transport system than do continuous tasks (1). The response to exercise conditions, however, varies substantially, as indicated in Table 1, which may be found on the following page. The proposed study will investigate the effects of interval versus steady (continuous) training (independent variable) on endurance performance (dependent variable).
The independent variable will be controlled by frequency of training wherein all subjects will be required to perform the same type of training. The independent variable will be defined operationally as the type of ...