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Polarized Aerobic Training and Vascular Adaptations in Apparently Healthy Individuals

NCT07665632 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2026-08-24

No results posted yet for this study

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.

Conditions

  • Sedentary Lifestyle

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Ljubljana

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Armin Paravlić, PhD · University of Ljubljana

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
30 Years
Max Age
50 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-09-25
Primary Completion
2027-11-20
Completion
2027-12-20

Countries

  • Slovenia

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07665632 on ClinicalTrials.gov