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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(14): 1319-1328
DOI: 10.1055/a-1481-8639
Clinical Sciences

VO2peak Response Heterogeneity in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: To HIIT or Not to HIIT?

Marit Lea Schlagheck‡
1   Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Department of Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
,
Anika Wucherer‡
2   Department for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
Annette Rademacher
2   Department for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
Niklas Joisten
1   Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Department of Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
,
Sebastian Proschinger
2   Department for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
David Walzik 
1   Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Department of Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
,
Wilhelm Bloch
2   Department for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
Jan Kool
3   Department of Neurology, Clinics of Valens, Rehabilitation Centre Valens, Valens, Switzerland
,
Roman Gonzenbach
3   Department of Neurology, Clinics of Valens, Rehabilitation Centre Valens, Valens, Switzerland
,
Jens Bansi 
3   Department of Neurology, Clinics of Valens, Rehabilitation Centre Valens, Valens, Switzerland
,
Philipp Zimmer
1   Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Department of Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
› Author Affiliations Funding: RCT1 was funded by the following trust: Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society. RCT2 was funded by the following trusts: Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society, Grenzen überschreiten, the Blumenau-Léonie Hartmann-Stiftung and the Stiftung Ergotherapie. The authors want to thank Florian Javelle for statistical advises and Ulrik Dalgas for supporting in exercise testing.
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Abstract

Exercise is described to provoke enhancements of cardiorespiratory fitness in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). However, a high inter-individual variability in training responses has been observed. This analysis investigates response heterogeneity in cardiorespiratory fitness following high intensity interval (HIIT) and moderate continuous training (MCT) and analyzes potential predictors of cardiorespiratory training effects in pwMS. 131 pwMS performed HIIT or MCT 3–5x/ week on a cycle ergometer for three weeks. Individual responses were classified. Finally, a multiple linear regression was conducted to examine potential associations between changes of absolute peak oxygen consumption (absolute ∆V̇O2peak/kg), training modality and participant’s characteristics. Results show a time and interaction effect for ∆V̇O2peak/kg. Absolute changes of cardiorespiratory responses were larger and the non-response proportions smaller in HIIT vs. MCT. The model accounting for 8.6% of the variance of ∆V̇O2peak/kg suggests that HIIT, younger age and lower baseline fitness predict a higher absolute ∆V̇O2peak/kg following an exercise intervention. Thus, this work implements a novel approach that investigates potential determinants of cardiorespiratory response heterogeneity within a clinical setting and analyzes a remarkable bigger sample. Further predictors need to be identified to increase the knowledge about response heterogeneity, thereby supporting the development of individualized training recommendations for pwMS.

Key words

cardiorespiratory fitness - exercise - high intensity interval training - moderate continuous training - multiple sclerosis - response heterogeneity

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 22 October 2020

Accepted: 07 April 2021

Article published online:
01 July 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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