Cardiovascular responses to high-intensity exercise: A systematic literature review comparing trained and untrained individuals
Keywords:
High-intensity interval training, cardiac output, trained individuals, untrained individualsAbstract
Background: High-intensity exercise induces distinct cardiovascular responses, but systematic comparisons between trained and untrained individuals remain limited. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to compare cardiovascular responses to HIIT specifically heart rate, blood pressure, and blood lactate levels and to identify factors influencing these differences. Methods: A systematic literature review following the PRISMA framework was conducted for this study. The initial search on the Scopus database using keywords such as “High-Intensity Exercise,” “Cardiac Output,” “Trained,” and “Untrained” yielded 380 articles. After a rigorous screening process, which applied strict inclusion and exclusion criteria including the requirement that articles be published in Q1-Q4 ranked journals between 2014 and 2024 a final set of 10 primary articles was selected for in-depth analysis. Findings/Results: High Intensity Interval Training effectively improves cardiovascular function in both trained and untrained individuals. Significant increases in cardiac output and VO₂ max are observed, particularly in trained cyclists. While untrained individuals also benefit, superior cardiovascular adaptations are seen in those who are trained. Furthermore, HIIT is proven to be safe; it does not increase the risk of cardiovascular dysfunction and even has a cardioprotective effect, demonstrated by an increase in cardiac ejection fraction. Conclusion: This review provides the first systematic synthesis comparing cardiovascular responses to high-intensity exercise between trained and untrained individuals. The findings highlight the importance of training status in exercise prescription and offer practical insights for coaches and health practitioners in optimizing high-intensity training programs.
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Author Biographies
Baiq Satrianingsih, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia
Risma, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Galuh, Ciamis, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
Dupri, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Islam Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Ari Gana Yulianto, Department of Sport Education, Postgraduated School, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia/STKIP Darussalam Cilacap, Cilacap, Indonesia
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Accepted 2025-08-22
Published 2025-11-19
