Practitioner Guidance for Implementing Low-Volume High Intensity Interval Training in People with Coronary Artery Disease

Ingle, Lee; Begg, Brian; Powell, Richard; Nichols, Simon; Birkett, Stefan; Young, Susan; Cowie, Aynsley; McGregor, Gordon

Abstract

Objective
High intensity interval training (HIIT) is recognised within many international cardiac rehabilitation (CR) guidelines. In the United Kingdom (UK), however, similar guidance does not exist; moderate intensity training regimens have traditionally been advocated. The aim is to develop a pragmatic technical report for practitioners working in CR in order to implement low-volume HIIT programmes for people with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods
We describe patient inclusion and exclusion criteria, clinical and safety considerations, and practical implications to support the implementation of low volume HIIT in practice. Detailed methodology relating to low-volume HIIT using the 10 ×1minute model is provided, alongside exercise training progression criteria.
Results
We provide corresponding percentage heart rate reserve (%HRR) training thresholds which can be used to guide individualised exercise prescription. Key considerations for familiarisation, supervision, monitoring, recording, and reporting are also discussed, underpinned by an overview of the acute physiological response to the training modality.
Conclusions
We anticipate that this pragmatic evidence-based technical report will support practitioners in implementing low-volume HIIT in routine clinical practice, thus, allowing it to be offered as standard-care alongside more traditional moderate intensity exercise training programmes.

Citation

Ingle, L., Begg, B., Powell, R., Nichols, S., Birkett, S., Young, S., Cowie, A., & McGregor, G. (2025). Practitioner Guidance for Implementing Low-Volume High Intensity Interval Training in People with Coronary Artery Disease. Physiotherapy, 128, Article 101777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2025.101777

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 23, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Feb 26, 2025
• Publication Date: 2025-09
• Deposit Date: Mar 3, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 27, 2026
• Journal: Physiotherapy
• Print ISSN: 0031-9406
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-1465
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 128
• Article Number: 101777
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2025.101777
• Keywords: High intensity interval training, exercise prescription, exercise safety, coronary artery disease, exercise training guidelines
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4135674