Effect of 6-Week High Intensity Interval Training on VO2max, Physical Competence and Sleep Quality in Sedentary Male University Students

NCT ID: NCT07256847

Last Updated: 2025-12-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 56 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-01-31

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of a 6-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention on physical fitness, cardiorespiratory capacity (VO2max), and sleep quality among sedentary male college students. Through a randomized controlled trial, we seek to examine whether HIIT, as a time-efficient exercise modality, can effectively improve these health-related outcomes in young adults who maintain predominantly sedentary lifestyles. This research will provide evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of HIIT as a potential intervention strategy to address the physical and physiological consequences of prolonged sitting behavior among university students.

Conditions

Sedentary Students; University Students

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) group

A 6-week HIIT exercise plan (running). Duration: Each session consists of 10 x 1-minute high-intensity bouts interspersed with 10 x 1-minute recovery periods. Adding the 3-minute warmup and 3-minute cool-down, each session totals approximately 26 minutes. This protocol is followed for 6 weeks.

Intensity: High-intensity bouts are performed at 80-90% of HRmax (RPE 15-18). Recovery periods are at 40-50% of HRmax (RPE 11-13). Warm-up and cool-down are at 50% HRmax (RPE 11-13).

Modality: Running, jogging, or brisk walking, either on a treadmill or outdoors.

Supervision: The first three sessions are supervised in a laboratory setting. Subsequent sessions are unsupervised and performed at home with heart rate monitoring and remote data tracking via Polar Flow for Coach.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

High intensity interval training

Intervention Type: OTHER

A 6-week HIIT exercise plan (running). Duration: Each session consists of 10 x 1-minute high-intensity bouts interspersed with 10 x 1-minute recovery periods. Adding the 3-minute warmup and 3-minute cool-down, each session totals approximately 26 minutes. This protocol is followed for 6 weeks.

Intensity: High-intensity bouts are performed at 80-90% of HRmax (RPE 15-18). Recovery periods are at 40-50% of HRmax (RPE 11-13). Warm-up and cool-down are at 50% HRmax (RPE 11-13).

Modality: Running, jogging, or brisk walking, either on a treadmill or outdoors. Supervision: The first three sessions are supervised in a laboratory setting. Subsequent sessions are unsupervised and performed at home with heart rate monitoring and remote data tracking via Polar Flow for Coach.

Control

Keep the usual life style without intervention.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

High intensity interval training

A 6-week HIIT exercise plan (running). Duration: Each session consists of 10 x 1-minute high-intensity bouts interspersed with 10 x 1-minute recovery periods. Adding the 3-minute warmup and 3-minute cool-down, each session totals approximately 26 minutes. This protocol is followed for 6 weeks.

Intensity: High-intensity bouts are performed at 80-90% of HRmax (RPE 15-18). Recovery periods are at 40-50% of HRmax (RPE 11-13). Warm-up and cool-down are at 50% HRmax (RPE 11-13).

Modality: Running, jogging, or brisk walking, either on a treadmill or outdoors. Supervision: The first three sessions are supervised in a laboratory setting. Subsequent sessions are unsupervised and performed at home with heart rate monitoring and remote data tracking via Polar Flow for Coach.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. university students;

2. daily sedentary time > 8 hours;

3. healthy individuals who are capable of physical tests or HIIT;

4. no regular exercise habits;

5. can understand English or Chinese.

Exclusion Criteria

1. self-reported history of neurological, psychiatric, or medical diseases;

2. current intake of medications and/or recreational drugs that could affect the central nervous system and/or the ability to learn.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Ma Ruisi

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ma Ruisi

Co-Investigator

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

SSPE, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, None Selected, Hong Kong

Countries

Hong Kong

References

Yano A, Hidaka E, Fujiwara K, Iimoto M. Induction of primary root curvature in radish seedlings in a static magnetic field. Bioelectromagnetics. 2001 Apr;22(3):194-9. doi: 10.1002/bem.38.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 11255215 (View on PubMed)

Eather N, Riley N, Miller A, Smith V, Poole A, Vincze L, Morgan PJ, Lubans DR. Efficacy and feasibility of HIIT training for university students: The Uni-HIIT RCT. J Sci Med Sport. 2019 May;22(5):596-601. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.016. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 30509862 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

SBRE-23-0914

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id