Polarized Aerobic Training and Vascular Adaptations in Apparently Healthy Individuals

ConditionSedentary Lifestyle

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age30-50

SponsorUniversity of Ljubljana

About this trial

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.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Men and women aged 30-50 years

Apparently healthy individuals without diagnosed cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease

Sedentary lifestyle verified using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and current physical activity classification criteria

Ambulatory blood pressure values within the normotensive range (<140 mmHg systolic and <90 mmHg diastolic)

Disqualifiers

Ambulatory blood pressure values ≥140 mmHg systolic and/or ≥90 mmHg diastolic

Moderate or high physical activity level according to the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)

Diagnosed chronic cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, respiratory, or other systemic disease

Use of prescribed medication influencing cardiovascular or metabolic function

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

Polarized Aerobic Training
Behavioral
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.

Treatment groups

30 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: Polarized Aerobic TrainingExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: Non-Exercising ControlNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD)

Endothelial function will be assessed using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measured by high-resolution ultrasound following a standardized ischemia-reperfusion protocol. FMD will be expressed as the relative (%) increase in brachial artery diameter following cuff release compared with baseline diameter.

Time frame