Higher Enjoyment in Response to High Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate Intensity Continuous Exercise

Enjoyment Responses to High Intensity Interval Training and Moderate Intensity Continuous Exercise

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02981667

Enrollment

Registered

2016-12-05

Start date

2015-09-30

Completion date

2015-12-31

Last updated

2016-12-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Exercise Training

Brief summary

Previous research is equivocal concerning if high intensity interval training is viewed as more aversive versus moderate exercise. Our data in active men and women showed that interval training is viewed as more enjoyable than higher volume moderate exercise.

Detailed description

Twelve men and women who were habitually active initially performed ramp exercise on a cycle ergometer to assess maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and peak power output (PPO), which was used to determine workload for the subsequent 2 bouts. They returned at least 48 h later at the same time of day to complete high intensity interval training (HIIT consisting of repeated 1 min bouts at 85 %PPO) or moderate intensity continuous training (MICT consisting of 25 min at 40 %PPO). During exercise, heart rate, oxygen uptake, perceived exertion, pleasure:displeasure, and blood lactate concentration were continuously assessed. Ten minutes post-exercise, physical activity enjoyment was measured. Data showed that despite higher oxygen uptake, heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and perceived exertion in HIIT, enjoyment was higher in HIIT versus MICT.

Interventions

OTHERExercise intensity

Participants were randomized to 1 or 2 exercise intensities, moderate or high (interval training).

Study design

Observational model

CASE_CROSSOVER

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 45 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Habitually active, healthy, non-obese

Exclusion criteria

* Sedentary, unhealthy, joint pain precluding tolerance to exercise

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Physical activity enjoyment score (PACES)	This was measured 10 min post-exercise in all participants during the 3 mo of data collection.	This is an 18-item categorical survey used to assess participants' enjoyment of the bout of physical activity that was just completed
Oxygen uptake	Measured continuously during exercise during the 3 mo of data collection.	Oxygen uptake (VO2) represents mitochondrial consumption of oxygen to drive cellular metabolism generating ATP to support muscular contraction.

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026