Submaximal exercise cardiac output is increased by 4 weeks of sprint interval training in young healthy males with low initial Q̇-V̇O(2): Importance of cardiac response phenotype

Cardiovascular adaptations to exercise, particularly at the individual level, remain poorly understood. Previous group level research suggests the relationship between cardiac output and oxygen consumption ([Image: see text] -[Image: see text] ) is unaffected by training as submaximal [Image: see text] is unchanged. We recently identified substantial inter-individual variation in the exercise [Image: see text] -[Image: see text] relationship that was correlated to stroke volume (SV) as opposed to arterial oxygen content. Therefore we explored the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) on modulating [Image: see text] -[Image: see text] given an individual’s specific [Image: see text] -[Image: see text] relationship. 22 (21±2 yrs) healthy, recreationally active males participated in a 4-week SIT (8, 20 second sprints; 4x/week, 170% of the work rate at [Image: see text] peak) study with progressive exercise tests (PET) until exhaustion. Cardiac output ([Image: see text] L/min; inert gas rebreathe, Finometer Modelflow™), oxygen consumption ([Image: see text] L/min; breath-by-breath pulmonary gas exchange), quadriceps oxygenation (near infrared spectroscopy) and exercise tolerance (6–20; Borg Scale RPE) were measured throughout PET both before and after training. Data are mean Δ from bsl±SD. Higher [Image: see text] ([Image: see text] ) and lower [Image: see text] ([Image: see text] ) responders were identified post hoc (n = 8/group). SIT increased the [Image: see text] -[Image: see text] post-training in [Image: see text] (3.8±0.2 vs. 4.7±0.2; P = 0.02) while [Image: see text] was unaffected (5.8±0.1 vs. 5.3±0.6; P = 0.5). [Image: see text] was elevated beyond 80 watts in [Image: see text] due to a greater increase in SV (all P<0.04). Peak [Image: see text] (ml/kg/min) was increased in [Image: see text] (39.7±6.7 vs. 44.5±7.3; P = 0.015) and [Image: see text] (47.2±4.4 vs. 52.4±6.0; P = 0.009) following SIT, with [Image: see text] having a greater peak [Image: see text] both pre (P = 0.02) and post (P = 0.03) training. Quadriceps muscle oxygenation and RPE were not different between groups (all P>0.1). In contrast to [Image: see text] , [Image: see text] responders are capable of improving submaximal [Image: see text] -[Image: see text] in response to SIT via increased SV. However, the increased submaximal exercise [Image: see text] does not benefit exercising muscle oxygenation.