Reljic D; Eichhorn A; Herrmann HJ; Neurath MF; Zopf Y;

International journal of environmental research and public health [Int J Environ Res Public Health] 2022 Sep 28; Vol. 19 (19).
Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Sep 28.

Initially, we aimed to investigate the impact of a one-year worksite low-volume, high-intensity interval training (LOW-HIIT) on cardiometabolic health in 114 sedentary office workers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, LOW-HIIT was discontinued after 6 months and participants were followed up for 6 months to analyze physical activity/exercise behavior and outcome changes during lockdown. Health examinations, including cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the assessment of cardiometabolic markers were performed baseline (T-1), after 6 months (T-2, termination of worksite LOW-HIIT) and 12 months (T-3, follow-up). Cycle ergometer LOW-HIIT (5 × 1 min at 85-95% HR _max ) was performed 2×/week. For follow-up analyses, participants were classified into three groups: HIIT-group (continued home-based LOW-HIIT), EX-group (continued other home-based exercises), and NO-EX-group (discontinued LOW-HIIT/exercise). At T-2, VO _2max (+1.5 mL/kg/min, p = 0.002), mean arterial blood pressure (MAB, -4 mmHg, p < 0.001), HbA _1c (-0.2%, p = 0.005) and self-reported quality of life (QoL, +5 points, p < 0.001) were improved. At T-3, HIIT-group maintained VO _2max and QoL and further improved MAB. EX-group maintained MAB and QoL but experienced a VO _2max decrease. In NON-EX, VO _2max , MAB and QoL deteriorated.
We conclude that LOW-HIIT can be considered a promising option to improve cardiometabolic health in real-life conditions and to mitigate physical inactivity-related negative health impacts during lockdowns.