Effect of Low Volume Sprint Interval Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Part of paid clinical trials in San Marcos, California.

Sponsor
California State University, San Marcos
Study ID
NCT07328568
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Healthy Participants
  • Inactivity, Physical
  • Overweight (BMI > 25)

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 55 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • High intensity interval training — OTHER
    Participants will complete 24 sessions of REHIT and their responses will be compared to a non exercising control group.

Study Details

Low levels of physical activity (PA) are related to poor health and greater risk of premature death in adults. Lack of time is cited as a primary barrier to partaking in PA. In the last 20 years, a lot of attention has been directed towards the efficacy of high intensity interval training (HIIT), which consists of brief, intense bursts of PA separated by recovery. One primary benefit of HIIT is a sizable increase in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), which enables adults to exercise better and reduce health risks due to the strong link between health status and CRF. Completion of cardiovascular exercise is typically recommended for all adults to increase CRF, yet it takes a lot of time and may be perceived as boring. Alternatively, HIIT requires less time and tends to cause greater feelings of enjoyment in many adults. Hundreds of studies report an increase in CRF in response to HIIT in various groups of adults ranging from athletes and those with obesity, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and even spinal cord injury, which emphasizes the potency of this vigorous form of PA. Yet, many studies are weakened by a small sample size which questions the feasibility of these findings. This randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy and feasibility of a very small amount of HIIT, referred to as reduced exertion high intensity interval training (REHIT), in inactive adults. In the proposed study, REHIT will consist of 2 days per week of 1 to two 10 - 20 second sprints on a stationary bike. The proposed sample will include 60 adults who complete 18 sessions of REHIT over a 9 week period, and their responses will be compared to a non exercising control group. During the study, changes in CRF, fuel metabolism, and psychological responses will be monitored, with the latter outcome shedding light on the overall feasibility of HIIT in inactive adults. Overall, this novel study has profound public health applications as it will assess fitness and health related changes to a small dose of PA in the largest sample to date. If substantial changes in CRF are shown, these data have the potential to modify public health guidelines for implementing PA in inactive adults.

Key Dates

First listed
Jan 9, 2026
Start date
Nov 5, 2025
Status verified
Aug 2026
Primary completion
Jun 1, 2028
Completion
Sep 1, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Experimental: Intervention group
    This group will perform long term REHIT.
  • Placebo Comparator: Non exercising control group
    This group will not complete REHIT, and will be given the option to complete the training once post testing is performed.

Primary Outcome Measure

Cardiorespiratory fitness [ Time Frame: CRF will be assessed at baseline 48 - 72 hours before the start of training, and at 6 and 12 weeks of training, which represent halfway and end of training. The assessments will be performed at least 24 hours after sessions of exercise training. ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
California State University--San Marcos Human Performance LaboratorySan MarcosCalifornia92096
Todd A Astorino, Ph.D
[email protected]
Todd Anthony Astorino, Ph.D (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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By research site
California State University--San Marcos Human Performance Laboratory· San Marcos, CA

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