Effects of High Intensity Intermittent Training on Peak V˙O₂ in Prepubertal Children

Abstract

This study was designed to examine peak V˙O₂ responses of prepubescent children following a 7-week aerobic training. Twenty-three boys and thirty girls (9.7 ± 0.8 years) were divided into a high intensity experimental group (HIEG: 20 girls and 13 boys) and a control group (CG: 10 girls and 10 boys). A graded 20-m shuttle run with measurement of gas exchange values was performed prior to and after the 7-week training program. The test consisted of a 3-min run at 7 km × h^-1 to determine energy cost of running, immediately followed by a 20-meter shuttle run test. HIEG had two 30 min-sessions of short intermittent aerobic training per week at velocities ranging from 100 up to 130 % of the maximal aerobic speed. For HIEG, absolute peak V˙O₂ (9.1 %) and relative to body mass peak V˙O₂ (8.2 %) increased significantly (p < 0.001); it was unchanged in the CG. Similarly, maximal shuttle run improved significantly in HIEG (5.1 %, p < 0.001). In contrast, there was no significant change for CG. For both groups energy cost of running remained unchanged. These findings show that prepubescent children could significantly increase their peak V˙O₂ and maximal shuttle velocity with high intensity short intermittent aerobic exercises.

Key words

Aerobic - field tests - fitness - gender - interval training - school

References

• 1 Ahmaidi S, Collomp K, Caillaud C, Préfaut C. Maximal and functional aerobic capacity as assessed by two graduated field methods in comparison to laboratory exercise testing in moderately trained subjects.  Int J Sports Med. 1992;  13 243-248
• 2 American College of Sports Medicine . The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness in healthy adults.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 265-274
• 3 Armstrong N, Welsman J R. Young People and Physical Activity. Oxford: University Press 1990: 122-125
• 4 Armstrong N, Kirby B J, Welsman J R, McManus A. Submaximal exercise in prepubertal children. In: Armstrong N, Kirby BJ, Welsman JR (eds) Children and Exercise XIX: Promoting Health and Well-Being. London; E & Spon 1997: 221-227
• 5 Bailey R C, Olson J, Pepper S L, Porszasz J, Barstow T J, Cooper D M. The level and tempo of children’s physical activities: an observation study.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;  27 1033-1041
• 6 Baquet G, Berthoin S, Gerbeaux M, van Praagh E. Assessment of maximal aerobic speed with the incremental running field test in children.  Biol Sport. 1999;  16 23-30
• 7 Baquet G eorges, Berthoin S, Gerbeaux M, van Praagh E. High-intensity aerobic training during a 10 week one-hour physical education cycle: Effects on physical fitness of adolescent aged 11 to 16.  Int J Sports Med. 2001;  22 295-300
• 8 Bar-Or O, Zwiren L. Physiological effects of increased frequency of physical education classes and of endurance conditioning on 9 to 10-year-old girls and boys. In: Bar-Or O (ed) Pediatric Work Physiology, Proceedings of the Fourth International symposium. Tel-Aviv, Israel; Wingate Institute 1973: 183-198
• 9 Bar-Or O. Trainability of the prepubescent child.  Phys Sportsmed. 1989;  17 65-82
• 10 Berthoin S, Manteca F, Gerbeaux M, Lensel-Corbeil G. Effect of a 12-week training programme on maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and running time to exhaustion at 100 percent of MAS for students aged 14 to 17 years.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1995;  35 251-256
• 11 Billat V, Koralsztein J P. Significance of the velocity at V˙O₂max and time to exhaustion at this velocity.  Sports Med. 1996;  22 90-108
• 12 Christensen E H, Hedman R, Saltin B. Intermittent and continuous running.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1960;  50 269-286
• 13 di Prampero P E, Atchou G, Bruckner J C, Moia C. The energetics of endurance running.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1986;  55 259-266
• 14 Gerbeaux M, Lensel-Corbeil G, Branly G, Jacquet A, Lefranc J F, Dierkens J M, Savin A, Savin N. Estimation de la vitesse maximale aérobie chez les elèves des collèges et lycées.  Sci Mot. 1991;  13 19-26
• 15 Gilliam T B, Freedson P S. Effects of a 12-week school physical fitness program on peak V˙O₂, body composition and blood lipids in 7 to 9 year old children.  Int J Sports Med. 1980;  1 73-78
• 16 Kemper H CG, van de Kop H. Entraînement de la puissance maximale aérobie chez les enfants prépubères et pubères.  Sci Sports. 1995;  10 29-38
• 17 Krahenbuhl G S, Williams T J. Running economy: changes with age during childhood and adolescence.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;  24 462-466
• 18 Leger L, Mercier D, Gadoury C, Lambert J. The multistage 20 metre shuttle run test for aerobic fitness.  J Sports Sci. 1988;  6 93-101
• 19 Lohman T G. Advances In Body Composition Assessment. Champaign, IL; Human Kinetics 1992: 65-77
• 20 Lussier L, Burskirk E R. Effects of an endurance training regimen on assessment of work capacity in prepubertal children.  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1977;  30 734-747
• 21 McLaughlin J E, King G A, Howley E T, Bassett D R Jr, Ainsworth B E. Validation of the COSMED K4 b² portable metabolic system.  Int J Sports Med. 2001;  22 280-284
• 22 Mandigout S, Lecoq A M, Courteix D, Guenon P, Obert P. Effect of gender in response to an aerobic training programme in prepubertal children.  Acta Paediatr. 2001;  90 9-15
• 23 Pate R R, Ward D S. Endurance trainability of children and youths. In: Bar-Or O (ed) The Child and the Adolescent Athlete. Oxford; Blackwell Sciences 1996: 130-137
• 24 Petray C K, Krahenbuhl G S. Running training, instruction on running technique, and running economy in 10-year-old males.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 1985;  56 251-255
• 25 Rotstein A, Dotan R, Bar-Or O, Tenenbaum G. Effects of training on anaerobic threshold, maximal aerobic power and anaerobic performance of pre-adolescent boys. Int.  J Sports Med. 1986;  7 281-286
• 26 Rowland T W, Boyajian A. Aerobic response to endurance training in children.  Pediatrics. 1995;  96 654-658
• 27 Rowland T W. Developmental Exercise Physiology. Champaign, IL; Human Kinetics 1996: 173-192
• 28 Savage M P, Petratis M M, Thomson W M. Exercise training effects on serum lipids of prepubescent boys and adult men.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1986;  18 197-201
• 29 Schofield W N. Predicting basal metabolic rate, new standards and review of previous work.  Human Nutrition: Clin Nutr. 1985;  39 S5-S41
• 30 Stewart K J, Gutin B. Effects of physical training on cardiorespiratory fitness in children.  Res Q. 1976;  47 110-120
• 31 Tanner J M. Growth at Adolescence (2nd Ed.). Oxford, UK; Blackwell 1962
• 32 Tolfrey K, Campbell I G, Batterham A M. Aerobic trainability of prepubertal boys and girls.  Ped Exerc Sci. 1998;  10 248-263
• 33 Vaccaro P, Mahon A. Cardiorespiratory responses to endurance training in children.  Sports Med. 1987;  4 352-363
• 34 Wenger H A, Bell G J. The interactions of intensity, frequency and duration of exercise training altering cardiorespiratory fitness.  Sports Med. 1986;  3 346-356
• 35 Williams C A, Armstrong N, Powell J. Aerobic responses of prepubertal boys to two modes of training.  Br Sports Med. 2000;  3 168-173