EFECTOS DEL ENTRENAMIENTO INTERVÁLICO DE ALTA INTENSIDAD SOBRE LA CAPACIDAD AERÓBICA Y VARIABILIDAD CARDIACA EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS. ESTUDIO CUASIEXPERIMENTAL

Objective: 4-week high intensity intervallic training on aerobic capacity in university students. Methods: Quasi-experimental, non-randomized study. Twenty-six eutrophic and physically active adult students participated in the study. The sample consisted of 26 university students of both sexes distributed in a control group (n=13) and an experimental group (n=13) who were evaluated in their aerobic capacity through the peak VO2 estimated by the Step Test 3x1 and their cardiac variability determined by the LF/HF autonomic balance. A high intensity intervallic training was elaborated during 4 weeks, where 2 times per week 4 series of Push-up, Mountain climber, Squat, Jumping Jack, Burpees and Skipping were performed, being the intensity of the load regulated through an effort perception scale Results: the control group reported significant changes on aerobic capacity with a small effect size (p = 0.01; d = 0.2), while no significant changes were observed on cardiac variability (p = 0.80; d = 0.2), while the experimental group observed significant changes with a medium effect size (p = 0.01; d = 0.5). However, no significant change in cardiac variability was observed (p = 0.21; d = 0.2). Conclusion: high intensity and short duration intervallic training could be a more effective stimulus for the improvement of cardiorespiratory capacity compared to a conventional aerobic training program in physically active young adults. However, it does not seem to generate acute changes on autonomic balance.