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Polarized Aerobic Training and Vascular Adaptations in Apparently Healthy Individuals
Sponsor: University of Ljubljana
Summary
This randomized controlled trial will investigate the effects of a 6-week polarized aerobic training intervention on vascular and cardiorespiratory function in apparently healthy sedentary adults aged 30-50 years. Polarized training is characterized by a high proportion of low-intensity aerobic exercise combined with a smaller volume of high-intensity interval exercise, potentially providing complementary haemodynamic and physiological stimuli that support vascular adaptations and cardiovascular health. Although polarized training has been extensively studied in athletic populations, its effects on vascular function in sedentary adults remain insufficiently understood. Thirty participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a supervised polarized aerobic training group or a non-exercising control group. The intervention will consist of a 6-week supervised cycle ergometer training program performed three times per week and prescribed according to individual ventilatory thresholds obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Training sessions will combine low-to-moderate-intensity continuous exercise and high-intensity interval exercise. Participants allocated to the control group will maintain their habitual sedentary lifestyle throughout the study period. The primary outcome will be endothelial function assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. Secondary outcomes will include arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity, central haemodynamics, microvascular function, cardiorespiratory fitness, skeletal muscle function, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and circulating biomarkers related to vascular health. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and after completion of the 6-week intervention period. The findings of this study may improve understanding of vascular and systemic adaptations to polarized aerobic training and help inform future exercise-based strategies for cardiovascular risk reduction in apparently healthy sedentary adults.
Official title: Adaptations of Vascular and Cardiorespiratory Function to a 6-week Polarized Aerobic Training Model in Apparently Healthy Individuals
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
30 Years - 50 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2026-05-25
Completion Date
2027-12-20
Last Updated
2026-06-24
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Polarized Aerobic Training
Participants will undergo a 6-week supervised polarized aerobic training programme performed three times weekly on a cycle ergometer. The intervention will combine low-to-moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training prescribed according to individual ventilatory thresholds determined during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The weekly structure will include two high-intensity interval sessions and one continuous aerobic training session, thereby creating a polarized intensity distribution characterized by a predominance of low-intensity exercise and limited exposure to the moderate-intensity domain. Exercise intensity will be individualized using heart rate and power output targets, and all sessions will be supervised by trained personnel.
Locations (1)
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of sport
Ljubljana, Slovenia