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Niels Vollaard

Lecturer, University of Stirling

My main research interests are in the health benefits of exercise in general, and the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIT) in specific. HIT has rapidly gained in popularity over the past decade, and is often promoted as a time-efficient alternative to aerobic exercise. However, although the health benefits of HIT in lab-based studies are generally at least as good as or better than those associated with aerobic exercise, commonly used HIT protocols are less time-efficient than generally suggested and far too strenuous to be viable as exercise interventions for sedentary populations. In my research I address the question why HIT is so effective at improving health markers, and I use this information to attempt to ‘optimise’ HIT protocols by making them shorter and easier while retaining the health benefits. Our current working hypothesis is that the rapid glycogen breakdown during ‘supramaximal’ sprints is one of the main stimuli for the adaptations to HIT, and that therefore fewer and shorter sprints should be effective. Based on this hypothesis, we have developed an effective HIT protocol that is genuinely time-efficient (10 minutes per session / 3 sessions per week) and manageable (ratings of perceived exertion similar to those with moderate intensity exercise). This protocol, termed reduced-exertion HIT (REHIT) has great potential to remove many of the barriers that prevent sedentary individuals from reaping the benefits of exercise.

Less pain, more gain – improving health and fitness with minimal exercise

Jan 17, 2017 14:44 pm UTC| Health

When it comes to exercise, if there was a way to get more health benefits by doing less, then its likely a lot of people would be interested. This is probably the reason that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) gets a...

Economy

Iran Tanker Attacks Surge as Hormuz Oil Flows Near Prewar Levels

Iran has intensified attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz even as oil shipments through the crucial waterway recover toward levels seen before the war, raising fresh concerns over Middle East energy security. UK...

Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Attacks Fuel Supply Fears

Oil prices reversed earlier losses on Tuesday as escalating security risks in the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen outweighed improving Middle East crude exports and plans by Group of Seven nations to release emergency reserves....

S&P 500 Hits Record High as AI Rally Lifts Wall Street

Wall Street advanced on Tuesday, pushing the SP 500 and Nasdaq Composite to record closing highs as enthusiasm over artificial intelligence, easing Treasury yields and relatively subdued oil prices supported investor...

Gold Prices Rise as Dollar Weakens, Treasury Yields Ease

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Politics

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Science

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Technology

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