Research summary · Training and performance
What short-bout HIIT demands from athletes
A multilevel synthesis describes the immediate physiological and perceived demands of running-based short-bout high-intensity interval training.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis
- Journal
- Sports Medicine
- Population / context
- Running-based athletes · Ages 16–40
What the publication reports
Across 46 studies and 139 samples, pooled demands included an average heart rate near 88% of maximum, peak heart rate near 94% and session exertion of 7.1/10. Active recovery, longer repetitions and higher speed altered aerobic demand, while shuttle running increased lactate and perceived exertion.
Limits and interpretation
Protocols and athlete levels varied, and moderator estimates were restricted to factors with sufficient samples. Acute responses do not establish long-term adaptation or one optimal session design.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
The Acute Effects of Short-Bout High-Intensity Interval Training on Physiological and Perceptual Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42171971DOI: 10.1007/s40279-026-02456-xFull text at the sourceReader discussion
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