Table 2.
MIT versus HIIT training characteristics
| Study | Groups | Design | Country | Exercise training mode | Exercise intensity | Exercise frequency (days p/w) | Intervention duration (weeks) | Adverse events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iellamo et al. [28] | MIT | RCT | Italy | Aerobic (uphill treadmill walking) | 45–60% HRR (30–45 min) | 2–5 | 12 | 0 |
| HIIT | RCT | Italy | Aerobic (uphill treadmill walking) | 75–80% HRR (4 × 4 min intervals, by 2–4 times) | 2–5 | 12 | 0 | |
| Ellingsen et al. [22] | MIT | RCT | Norway (9 centres) | MIT (treadmill or cycling) | 60–70% MHR (47 min) | 3 | 12 | NR |
| HIIT | RCT | Norway (9 centres) | HIIT (treadmill or cycling) | 90–95% MHR (4 × 4 min) 38 min session | 3 | 12 | NR | |
| Iellamo et al. [29] | MIT | RCT | Italy | Aerobic (uphill treadmill walking) | 45–60% HRR (30–45 min) | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| HIIT | RCT | Italy | Aerobic (uphill treadmill walking) | 75–80% HRR (4 × 4 min intervals, by 2–4 times) | 3 | 12 | 0 | |
| Besnier et al. [30] | MIT | RCT | France | MIT (cycling) | 60% peak power output (30 min) | 5 | 3.5 | 0 |
| HIIT | RCT | France | HIIT (cycling) | 100% peak power output (Two 8-min blocks of 30 s max output and 30 s active rest) | 5 | 3.5 | 0 | |
| Koufaki et al. [31] | MIT | RCT | UK | MIT (cycling) | 40–60% peak VO2 (21–40 min) | 3 | 24 | 1 (anxiety attack) |
| HIIT | RCT | UK | HIIT (cycling) | 100% peak power output (2 × 15 min bouts of 30 s max output with 1 min active rest between) | 3 | 24 | 1 (syncope) | |
| Wisløff et al. [32] | MIT | RCT | Norway | moderate continuous—uphill walking | 70–75% peak HR | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| HIIT | RCT | Norway | Aerobic interval training—uphill walking (4 × 4-min intervals) | 90–95% peak HR | 3 | 12 | 0 | |
| Dimopoulos et al. [33] | MIT | RCT | Greece | MIT (cycling) | 50% WR peak (40 min) | 3 | 12 | NR |
| HIIT | RCT | Greece | HIIT (cycling) | 100% WR peak (30 s intervals and 30s rest for 40 min) | 3 | 12 | NR | |
| Freyssin et al. [34] | MIT | RCT | France | MIT (cycling and treadmill) | HR corresponding VT1 (45 min) | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| HIIT | RCT | France | AIT (cycling) | 50% steep ramp test (30 s intervals for 40 min) | 5 | 8 | 0 | |
| Fu et al. [35] | MIT | RCT | Taiwan | MIT (cycling) | 60% HRR/VO2 peak | 3 | 12 | NR |
| HIIT | RCT | Taiwan | HIIT (cycling) | 80% HRR/VO2 peak | 3 | 12 | NR | |
| Ulbrich et al. [36] | MIT | RCT | Brazil | MIT (uphill walking) | 75% peak HR | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| HIIT | RCT | Brazil | HIIT (uphill walking) | 95% peak HR (3 min intervals with 3 min active recovery, 4–6 times) | 3 | 12 | 0 | |
| Donelli da Silveira et al. [37] | MIT | RCT | Brazil | MIT (treadmill) | 50–60% peak VO2 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| HIIT | RCT | Brazil | HIIT (treadmill) | 80–90% peak VO2 | 3 | 12 | 0 | |
| Angadi et al. [38] | MIT | RCT | USA | MIT (treadmill) | 60–70% peak HR | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| HIIT | RCT | USA | HIIT (treadmill) | 80–85% peak HR | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| Mueller et al. [23] | MIT | RCT | Germany | HIIT (cycling) | 80–90% HRR | 5 | 12 | NR |
| HIIT | RCT | Germany | Aerobic (cycling) | 35–50% HRR | 3 | 12 | NR |
HIIT, High-intensity interval training; MIT, moderate intensity training; RCT, randomised controlled trial; MHR, maximal heart rate; HRR, heart rate reserve; WR, work rate; VO2, volume oxygen