Defining the number of bouts and oxygen uptake during the "Tabata protocol" performed at different intensities

Ricardo B Viana; João P A Naves; Claudio A B de Lira; Victor S Coswig; Fabrício B Del Vecchio; Carlos A Vieira; Paulo Gentil

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.02.045

Defining the number of bouts and oxygen uptake during the "Tabata protocol" performed at different intensities

Physiol Behav. 2018 May 15:189:10-15. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.02.045. Epub 2018 Feb 24.

Authors

Ricardo B Viana¹, João P A Naves¹, Claudio A B de Lira¹, Victor S Coswig², Fabrício B Del Vecchio³, Carlos A Vieira¹, Paulo Gentil⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
² Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Physical Education, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Brazil.
³ Department of Physical Education, Superior School of Physical Education, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil. Electronic address: paulogentil@hotmail.com.

PMID: 29486169
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.02.045

Abstract

It is usually reported that the Tabata protocol (TP) is performed with eight bouts of 20:10 intervals at a load equivalent to 170% of i V̇ O₂max. However, the feasibility of accumulating 160 s of work at 170% i V̇ O₂max has been questioned. This article tested the intensity that would allow the performance of the original TP on a cycle ergometer, and measured the highest value of oxygen consumption (V̇ O₂) obtained during the TP and the time spent above 90% of the maximal oxygen uptake (V̇ O₂max) during the TP performed at different intensities. Thirteen young active males (25.9 ± 5.5 years, 67.9 ± 9.2 kg, 1.70 ± 0.06 m, 23.6 ± 3.1 kg·m^-2) participated in the study. Participants performed a graded exertion test (GXT) on a cycle ergometer to obtain maximum oxygen consumption (V̇ O₂max) and the intensity associated with V̇ O₂max (i V̇ O₂max). V̇ O₂, maximal heart rate (HRmax), and number of bouts performed were evaluated during the TP performed at 115%, 130%, and 170% of i V̇ O₂max. V̇ O₂max, HRmax, and iV̇ O₂max were 51.8 ± 8.0 mL.kg^-1·min^-1, 186 ± 10 bpm, and 204 ± 26 W, respectively. The number of bouts performed at 115% (7 ± 1 bouts) was higher than at 130% (5 ± 1 bouts) and 170% (4 ± 1 bouts) (p < .0001). The highest V̇ O₂ achieved at 115%, 130%, and 170% of iV̇ O₂max was 54.2 ± 7.9 mL·kg^-1·min^-1, 52.5 ± 8.1 mL·kg^-1·min^-1, and 49.6 ± 7.5 mL·kg^-1·min^-1, respectively. Non significant difference was found between the highest V̇ O₂ achieved at different intensities, however qualitative magnitude-inference indicate a likely small effect between 115% and 170% of iV̇ O₂max. Time spent above 90% of the V̇ O₂max during the TP at 115% (50 ± 48 s) was higher than 170% (23 ± 21 s; p < 0.044) with a probably small effect. In conclusion, our data suggest that the adequate intensity to perform a similar number of bouts in the original TP is lower than previously proposed, and equivalent to 115% of the iV̇ O₂max. In addition, intensities between 115 and 130% of the iV̇ O₂max should be used to raise the time spent above 90% V̇O₂max.

Keywords: Aerobic exercise; Exercise performance; High-intensity interval training; Intermittent exercise; Metabolism.

MeSH terms

Adult
Ergometry / statistics & numerical data
Exercise / physiology*
Exercise Test / statistics & numerical data
Heart Rate / physiology
Humans
Male
Oxygen Consumption / physiology*
Physical Exertion / physiology*
Young Adult