Which Training Intensity Distribution Intervention will Produce the Greatest Improvements in Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Time-Trial Performance in Endurance Athletes? A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data.

Rosenblat MA, Watt JA, Arnold JI, Treff G, Sandbakk ØB, Esteve-Lanao J, Festa L, Filipas L, Galloway SD, Muñoz I, Ramos-Campo DJ, Schneeweiss P, Sellés-Pérez S, Stöggl T, Talsnes RK, Zinner C, Seiler S

Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · March 1, 2025

Background: Endurance athletes tend to accumulate large training volumes, the majority of which are performed at a low intensity and a smaller portion at moderate and high intensity. Methods: We included 13 studies with 348 recreational and competitive endurance athletes, comparing polarized (POL) training intensity distribution to comparator groups. Results: Based on the time in heart rate zone approach, there was no difference in VO2max (SMD = -0.06, p = 0.68) or time-trial performance (SMD = -0.05, p = 0.34) between POL and pyramidal (PYR) interventions overall. Subgroup analysis showed competitive athletes may have greater improvements to VO2max with POL, while recreational athletes may improve more with a PYR distribution. Conclusions: Adaptations to VO2max following different training-intensity-distribution interventions are dependent on performance level.

PMID: 39888556 · DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02149-3