Effect of 6-Week High Intensity Interval Training on VO2max, Physical Competence and Sleep Quality in Sedentary Male University Students

NCT07256847 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: SBRE-23-0914
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of a 6-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention on physical fitness, cardiorespiratory capacity (VO2max), and sleep quality among sedentary male college students. Through a randomized controlled trial, we seek to examine whether HIIT, as a time-efficient exercise modality, can effectively improve these health-related outcomes in young adults who maintain predominantly sedentary lifestyles. This research will provide evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of HIIT as a potential intervention strategy to address the physical and physiological consequences of prolonged sitting behavior among university students.

Conditions

Sedentary Students; University Students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

• VO2max

  Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run 20-m (measured in laps)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Sleep Quality

  Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (scored from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating worse sleep quality)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Handgrip

  Handgrip dynamometer (measured in kilograms)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Core strength

  Plank test (measured in second)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Balance

  Unipedal stance test (measured in second)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Agility

  Agility T-test (measured in second)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Flexibility

  Sit and Reach Test

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Body composition (measured in centimeter)

  Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device (MC-780MA)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

Other Outcomes (4)

• Carbohydrate Intake

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Fat Intake

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

• Protein Intake

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after 6-week intervention completion

Study Arms (2)

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) group

EXPERIMENTAL

A 6-week HIIT exercise plan (running). Duration: Each session consists of 10 x 1-minute high-intensity bouts interspersed with 10 x 1-minute recovery periods. Adding the 3-minute warmup and 3-minute cool-down, each session totals approximately 26 minutes. This protocol is followed for 6 weeks. Intensity: High-intensity bouts are performed at 80-90% of HRmax (RPE 15-18). Recovery periods are at 40-50% of HRmax (RPE 11-13). Warm-up and cool-down are at 50% HRmax (RPE 11-13). Modality: Running, jogging, or brisk walking, either on a treadmill or outdoors. Supervision: The first three sessions are supervised in a laboratory setting. Subsequent sessions are unsupervised and performed at home with heart rate monitoring and remote data tracking via Polar Flow for Coach.

Other: High intensity interval training

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Keep the usual life style without intervention.

Interventions

High intensity interval training OTHER

A 6-week HIIT exercise plan (running). Duration: Each session consists of 10 x 1-minute high-intensity bouts interspersed with 10 x 1-minute recovery periods. Adding the 3-minute warmup and 3-minute cool-down, each session totals approximately 26 minutes. This protocol is followed for 6 weeks. Intensity: High-intensity bouts are performed at 80-90% of HRmax (RPE 15-18). Recovery periods are at 40-50% of HRmax (RPE 11-13). Warm-up and cool-down are at 50% HRmax (RPE 11-13). Modality: Running, jogging, or brisk walking, either on a treadmill or outdoors. Supervision: The first three sessions are supervised in a laboratory setting. Subsequent sessions are unsupervised and performed at home with heart rate monitoring and remote data tracking via Polar Flow for Coach.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: To control for sex-specific variations in exercise responses, this study was only restricted to biological male university students.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• university students;
• daily sedentary time \> 8 hours;
• healthy individuals who are capable of physical tests or HIIT;
• no regular exercise habits;
• can understand English or Chinese.

You may not qualify if:

• self-reported history of neurological, psychiatric, or medical diseases;
• current intake of medications and/or recreational drugs that could affect the central nervous system and/or the ability to learn.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ma Ruisi: lead

Study Sites (1)

SSPE, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, None Selected, Hong Kong

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Yano A, Hidaka E, Fujiwara K, Iimoto M. Induction of primary root curvature in radish seedlings in a static magnetic field. Bioelectromagnetics. 2001 Apr;22(3):194-9. doi: 10.1002/bem.38.

  PMID: 11255215 BACKGROUND

• Eather N, Riley N, Miller A, Smith V, Poole A, Vincze L, Morgan PJ, Lubans DR. Efficacy and feasibility of HIIT training for university students: The Uni-HIIT RCT. J Sci Med Sport. 2019 May;22(5):596-601. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.016. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

  PMID: 30509862 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Interventions

High-Intensity Interval Training

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Co-Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 20, 2025
• First Posted: December 1, 2025
• Study Start: July 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2024
• Study Completion: January 31, 2025
• Last Updated: December 1, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)