The present study investigated the effects of high-intensity interval exercise training and placebo-exercise on mental health and inflammation using a randomized control trial. The study also examined how anxiety symptoms prior to high-intensity interval training may influence improvements in fitness. Inactive young adults underwent nine weeks of either high-intensity interval training or their regular routine. Questionnaires, a blood draw and a maximal exercise test were conducted the week before and week after the intervention. It was hypothesized those who underwent high-intensity interval training would experience greater reductions in their depression, anxiety, and inflammation than those who were in the placebo control group. It was also hypothesized those who had high anxiety symptoms at the start of high-intensity interval training would experience smaller improvements in fitness than those who had low anxiety symptoms.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Change in mental illness symptoms (anxiety, depression) from baseline to post-intervention
The 21-items of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck, Brown, Epstein \& Steer, 1998) are summed to produce a total score from 0-63, with a higher score reflecting more severe anxiety symptoms. The 21-items of the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Steer, \& Brown, 1996) are summed to produce a total score from 0-63, with a higher score reflecting more severe depressive symptoms.
Time frame: 11 weeks
Change in concentration of circulating proinflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1 beta, Tumour necrosis factor alpha) from baseline to post-intervention
Picogram measured from venous blood sample
Time frame: 11 weeks
Change in cardiorespiratory fitness from baseline to post-intervention
VO2peak test (ml/min/kg)
Time frame: 11 weeks
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