Positive and Negative Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Athletic Performance

Abstract

In recent decades, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has become popular among athletes. This training method involves repeating short training periods with regular recovery intervals. This popularity of HIIT and its effects on athletic performance has made it a primary focus of interest among researchers, conditioners, and coaches. This study aims to examine the positive and negative impact of HIIT on athletic performance in depth and to bring the findings to the literature. In this framework, the current study will address the potential of HIIT to improve performance in different sports, its health effects, and potential risks. In this study, a review of current literature examining the positive and negative effects of HIIT on athletic performance was conducted. This study was structured to include studies and meta-analyses in various scientific databases such as "Web of Science", "PubMed", "Google Scholar" and "TR Index". For the analysis of the studies, literature was searched in these databases with keywords such as "High-Intensity Interval Training", "HIIT", "Sportive Performance", "Athletic Performance", "HIIT and Sportive Performance", "Effects of HIIT", "Sports Injuries" and "Injury Risks in Sports" and the conclusion section of the current study has created according to the results of these studies. Findings in the literature show that HIIT has the potential to improve performance in many sports. Studies have shown significant improvements in performance measures such as strength, endurance, speed, and anaerobic capacity. However, HIIT training protocols are not without negative impacts, such as overtraining risks, muscular injuries, and excessive fatigue. Both coaches and athletes should understand that HIIT is an effective way to improve performance but should avoid overdoing it in their training protocols. As such, training programs should be individualized, considering individual needs and tolerances. Furthermore, further research is recommended to test the negative impact of HIIT.