The Study
Effects of a New Form of Resistance-Type High-Intensity Interval Training on Cardiac Structure, Hemodynamics, and Physiological and Performance Adaptations in Well-Trained Kayak Sprint Athletes
This study is like a fair race between three groups of elite kayak athletes: one did a new kind of workout, one did the usual intense workout, and one did light paddling. The results show which group got better at paddling and breathing harder — but we can't say for sure the workouts caused it because no one was blind to who was doing what.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This study tested if doing heavy rowing exercises at max effort could make kayak racers both stronger and better at cardio, like doing two workouts in one.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 562 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — cutting 3–4 seconds off a 100–220 second race is a big deal at elite levels, and gaining significant strength without sacrificing cardio is a time-saving win for athletes.
- 2After 8 weeks: RHIIT (rowing) boosted strength by 1.7x more than before and VO2peak by 9.1%; PHIIT (paddling) boosted VO2peak by 12.3% and cut 500m time by 3.4s; both beat the control group.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Physiology
Year
2022
Authors
Mohsen Sheykhlouvand, H. Arazi, T. Astorino, Katsuhiko Suzuki
Related Content
Claims (6)
During exercise, endurance athletes have a higher cardiac output than non-athletes at every level of effort.
Among trained male kayak sprinters, high-intensity interval training using resistance or paddling exercises improves 500-meter race times by 3.5 to 3.7 seconds, while endurance paddling improves times by only 1.9 seconds.
In well-trained male kayak sprinters, two types of high-intensity training raise the ratio of testosterone to cortisol without changing the total amounts of either hormone.
In well-trained male kayak sprinters, 8 weeks of high-intensity resistance training using one-armed cable rows increases maximal oxygen uptake by 9.1% and increases upper body strength by 1.7 standard deviations.
Among trained male kayak sprinters, 8 weeks of high-intensity interval paddling at maximum oxygen capacity increases VO2peak by 12.3% and improves 1000-meter race time by 3.9 seconds more than endurance paddling.
In elite male kayak sprinters, both resistance training and paddling-based high-intensity interval training increase the amount of blood the heart holds and pumps at rest, and the two types of training produce the same effect.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.