EFFECT OF HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING ON HEART FUNCTIONS AND EFFORT CAPACITIES OF CHILD ATHLETES

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of intense interval training on heart functions and effort capacities of child athletes. Adolescent (n: 19) footballers who play in different football clubs, whose age average is 16.8±1.2 year and also whose ages vary between 15 and 18 year participated in this study. The footballers were given a pyramidal load training with the maximal running distances of 250 meters (m) -400 m-650 m-950 m with 60% -70% -80% load intensity for 8 weeks, 3 days a week, 1 hour per day. Participator athletes were assessed by electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, and effort test before and after the exercises. Paired sample t-test was utilized to comparatively evaluate the pretest and posttest results in statistical analyses. Left ventricular mass (LV mass), left ventricular mass index (LV mass index), V6 derivation R wave are significantly different in the posttest (p<0.05). There is a statistically significant difference in heart rate and diastolic blood pressure values at rest (p<0.05). Duration of exercises significantly increased in the effort test (respectively 17.2+2.9; 19.6+2 minutes; p<0.001). There also was observed a significant difference in metabolic equality values (MET) (respectively 20.4+3.1; 22.2+2.5; p<0.01). There was found a significant difference in heart functions and effort capacity in child athletes at the end of intense interval training. Performance was enhanced even with 1 hour of training for 3 days a week.