CompletedNot Applicable

Decremental Exercise: a New Training Approach?

Switzerland55 participantsStarted 2017-06-01

Plain-language summary

Different types of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions are used by athletes in order to improve their physical performance, but innovative approaches to training are lacking. Therefore, in Part A of this study the physiological response to a standard HIIT and a new decremental exercise training (DECT) will be compared in runners and cyclists. Next, in Part B the training effects of a 4-week block of the HIIT and DECT will be compared.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 40 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age: 18-40 years * Healthy, i.e. normal physical and mental status (not taking any medication on a regular basis for more than a month, except contraceptive medication) * Normal Body-Mass-Index (BMI): 18.5-24.9 kg·m-2 * Well-trained athletes: V̇O2max \> 55.1 ml·min-1·kg-1 for men and \> 50.1 ml·min-1·kg-1 for women * Normal lung function * Non-smoking * Willing to adhere to the general study rules Exclusion Criteria: * Women who are pregnant or breast feeding * Intention to become pregnant during the course of the study * Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse * Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant * Previous enrolment into the same part (A or B) of the current study * Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons * Acute or chronic illness * Intake of medications affecting performance or the respiratory, cardiovascular or neuromuscular system * Insufficient training history (\<3 yrs of participation in competitive cycling/running) or training volume (\<40 km running/week or 150 km cycling/week) in the previous 6 months * Recent (\<3 months) history of orthopaedic injury or participation in structured high-intensity training blocks

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in exercise performance

Timeframe: measured before and after the 4-week training block, during a time-trial (40 km cycling or 10 km running)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03155152

SponsorSwiss Federal Institute of Technology

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2019-12-11

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Exercise Performance of Fit Athletes trials