Hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training upregulates musculoskeletal fitness of adults with overweight and obesity in a volume-dependent manner: A 1-year dose-response randomised controlled trial

This study examined the dose-response effects of a 1-year hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training programme (DoIT) on various musculoskeletal fitness parameters in inactive overweight and obese adults in a gym setting. Ninety-seven middle-aged (44.8 ± 5.2 years) individuals with overweight/obesity (31.2 ± 5.7 kg/m²) (66% female) were randomly assigned to the following groups: (i) no-intervention control (CON, n = 29), (ii) DoIT performed once weekly (DoIT-1, n = 24), (iii) DoIT performed twice weekly (DoIT-2, n = 23) and (iv) DoIT performed thrice weekly (DoIT-3, n = 21). DoIT was a time-efficient, intermittent-based, multicomponent exercise protocol using progressive loaded fundamental movement patterns with prescribed work-to-rest intervals (1:3-2:1) in a circuit format (2-3 rounds). Muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, passive range of motion (PRoM), static balance and functional movement screen (FMS®) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months following intervention. At post-training, all exercise groups exhibited superior changes than CON in (i) muscular strength (+13%-38%, p < 0.001); (ii) muscular endurance (+42%-159%, p < 0.001); (iii) flexibility (+12%-42%, p < 0.001); (iv) PRoM (+6%-50%, p = 0.001-0.026); (v) static balance (+61%-163%, p < 0.001); and (vi) FMS (+18%-39%, p < 0.001). Although a single exercise session/week improved musculoskeletal fitness, changes demonstrated a step-wise improvement with two and three sessions/week suggesting a dose-dependent response. The response rate to training was 100% for all exercise groups. These findings suggest that a multicomponent exercise approach incorporating bodyweight drills and resistance-based alternative modes performed under real-world conditions may improve several musculoskeletal fitness indicators in a dose-dependent manner in inactive, middle-aged adults with overweight/obesity.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03759951.

Hybrid neuromuscular training promotes musculoskeletal adaptations in inactive overweight and obese women: A training-detraining randomized controlled trial

This study investigated the effects of a 10-month high-intensity interval-type neuromuscular training programme on musculoskeletal fitness in overweight and obese women. Forty-nine inactive females (36.4 ± 4.4 yrs) were randomly assigned to either a control (N = 21), a training (N = 14, 10 months) or a training-detraining group (N = 14, 5 months training followed by 5 months detraining). Training used progressive loaded fundamental movement patterns with prescribed work-to-rest intervals (1:2, 1:1, 2:1) in a circuit fashion (2-3 rounds). Muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, passive range of motion (PRoM), static balance, functional movement screen (FMS) and bone mass density (BMD) and content (BMC) were measured at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Ten months of training induced greater changes than the controls in (i) BMD (+1.9%, p < 0.001) and BMC (+1.5%, p = 0.023) ii) muscular strength (25%-53%, p = 0.001-0.005); iii) muscular endurance (103%-195%, p < 0.001); and iv) mobility (flexibility: 40%, p < 0.001; PRoM [24%-53%, p = 0.001-0.05;]; balance: 175%, p = 0.058; FMS: +58%, p < 0.001). The response rate to training was exceptionally high (86-100%). Five months of detraining reduced but not abolished training-induced adaptations. These results suggest that a hybrid-type exercise approach integrating endurance-based bodyweight drills with resistance-based alternative modes into a real-world gym setting may promote musculoskeletal fitness in overweight and obese women.