ArticleBMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2026
Effects of high-intensity interval training on aerobic capacity and athletic performance in trained athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article in BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of high-intensity interval training on physical fitness in trained adolescent athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Pooled it
- High-intensity interval training versus plyometric training on performance measures among recreational runners: a randomized controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Study on the effects of 4 × 4 min high-intensity interval training frequency on cardiorespiratory function, metabolic indices, and exercise performance in male university students.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Effects of a six-week combined tire-squat and explosive-kicking programme on roundhouse-kick performance in highly trained male Muay Thai athletes: a parallel-group controlled trial.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This study conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on aerobic capacity and performance in trained athletes. The data sources utilized were PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science. Eligibility included trained athletes, encompassing amateur, elite, or professional male and female participants, with no age restrictions. Outcome measures include aerobic capacity and performance. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane, Bias risk assessment tool. The search identified 4,289 titles, with 18 articles eligible for the review and meta-analysis. The results showed that HIIT significantly improved VO2max (SMD: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.48, 1.74; heterogeneity p < 0.1) and VO2peak (MD: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.97; heterogeneity p < 0.1) in trained athletes, indicating a remarkable effect of HIIT in enhancing aerobic capacity. In terms of athletic performance, HIIT significantly improved speed (MD: -0.72, 95% CI: -1.41, -0.03; heterogeneity p < 0.1) and agility (MD: -0.93, 95% CI: -1.79, -0.06; heterogeneity p < 0.1). However, no significant effects of HIIT were observed on HRmax, jump, and power, suggesting that its main advantages are focused on cardiopulmonary endurance and efficiency-related indicators rather than maximal strength or explosive power.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.