Effect of an 8-Week High Intensity Interval Training Programme on Cardiorespiratory Parameters of Male Athletes of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education Ijagun Ogun State

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to determine the effects of an 8-week high-intensity interval training program on the cardiorespiratory parameters of male athletes at Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijagun, Ogun State. The study's target population consisted of all male undergraduate athletes at Tai Solarin Federal University in Ijagun, Ogun State. Fourteen volunteers were chosen at random from the population to make up the study's sample. This study adopted the one group Pre-test/Post-test research design. It is one of the pre-experimental designs where a single group is observed after a treatment, often without a control group. The participants were exposed to pre-test measurements. After the pre-test measurement, participants were exposed to 8-week interval training. Data was collected for pre-test and post-test using the following standardized instruments: 400-metre running track (for Cooper's 12-minute run test for Vo2 max), the PCV micro-haematocrit centrifugation, and the sphygmomanometer for measuring Heart rate and blood pressure were all standardised instruments. The acquired data was evaluated using the descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation, and the hypotheses were analysed at the 0.05 level of significance using the inferential statistics of the Student t-test. Five hypotheses in all were developed, tested, and all of them were found to be false. According to the study, male athletes' resting heart rate, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, packed cell volume, and maximum oxygen absorption were all affected by 8-week interval training. Given the results, it was recommended that male athletes should Coaches should include high-intensity interval training to improve cardiorespiratory variables, while proper enlightenment campaign should be organized for male athletes on the effectiveness of interval training at high intensities programme in reducing/improving the resting heart rate which is an evidence of improved cardiovascular health and endurance.