Which Training Intensity Distribution Intervention will Produce the Greatest Improvements in Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Time-Trial Performance in Endurance Athletes? A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data.

Jennifer A Watt, Rune K Talsnes, Sergio Sellés-Pérez, Iker Muñoz, Luca Festa, Jonathan Esteve-Lanao, Øyvind B Sandbakk, Jem I Arnold, Michael A Rosenblat, Stephen Seiler, Christoph Zinner, Domingo J Ramos-Campo, Luca Filipas, Stuart D Galloway, Gunnar Treff, Thomas Stöggl, Patrick Schneeweiss

Journal: Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) 2025;55(3):655-673

PMID: 39888556

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Endurance athletes tend to accumulate large training volumes, the majority of which are performed at a low intensity and a smaller portion at moderate and high intensity. However, different training intensity distributions (TID) are employed to maximize physiological and performance adaptations.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis of individual participant data to compare the effect of different TID models on maximal oxygen uptake (VO) and time-trial (TT) performance in endurance-trained athletes.

METHODS

Studies were included if: (1) they were published in peer reviewed academic journals, (2) they were in English, (3) they were experimental or quasi-experimental studies, (4) they included trained endurance athletes, (5) they compared a polarized (POL) TID intervention to a comparator group that utilized a different TID model, (6) the duration in each intensity domain could be quantified, and (7) they reported VO or TT performance. Medline and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception until 11 February 2024.

RESULTS

We included 13 studies with 348 (n = 296 male, n = 52 female) recreational (n = 150) and competitive (n = 198) endurance athletes. Mean age ranged from 17.6 to 41.5 years and VO ranged from 46.6 to 68.3 mL·kg·min, across studies respectively. Based on the time in heart rate zone approach, there was no difference in VO (SMD = - 0.06, p = 0.68) or TT performance (SMD = - 0.05, p = 0.34) between POL and pyramidal (PYR) interventions. There were no statistically significant differences between POL and any of the other TID interventions. Subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the response of VO between recreational and competitive athletes for POL and PYR (SMD = - 0.63, p < 0.05). Competitive athletes may have greater improvements to VO with POL, while recreational athletes may improve more with a PYR TID.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the adaptations to VO following different TID interventions are dependent on performance level. Athletes at a more competitive level may benefit from a POL TID intervention and recreational athletes from a PYR TID intervention.

Address: Sylvan Adams Sport Institute, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. [email protected].; Evidence-Based Coaching, Toronto, ON, Canada. [email protected].; Knowledge Translation Program, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.; School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.; Institute for Molecular Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.; Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Centre for Elite Sports Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway.; All In Your Mind Training System, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.; Italian Cycling Federation FCI, Rome, Italy.; Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.; TotalEnergies Pro Cycling Team, Essarts-en-Bocage, France.; Physiology, Exercise and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK.; Department of Physical Activity and Sports, Faculty of Education and Sports, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.; LFE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Science-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.; Medical Clinic, Department of Sports Medicine, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.; Interfaculty Research Institute for Sports and Physical Activity, University of Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany.; General Didactic and Specific Didactics Department, Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.; Red Bull Athlete Performance Center, Salzburg, Austria.; Department of Sport, University of Applied Sciences for Police and Administration of Hesse, Wiesbaden, Germany.; Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.

DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02149-3

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https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02149-3

MeSH Terms: Humans, Oxygen Consumption, Athletic Performance, Physical Endurance, Physical Conditioning, Human, Athletes, Endurance Training