Training characteristics
Participants in both groups completed 28 ± 2 sessions of physical exercise. On average, each exercise session lasted less time in the COMB group (35.9 ± 4.6 min) than in the MICT group (45 ± 6 min, P < 0.001). At W0, the average HR during the training sessions was 134 ± 7 bpm and 124 ± 6 bpm in the COMB and MICT groups, respectively (P < 0.010). HR expressed in relative values, was higher in the COMB group (76 ± 3%HRmax), than in the MICT group (70 ± 3%HRmax, group effect P < 0.001).At W3, HR expressed in absolute values did not change in both groups (time effect P = 0.147 and P = 0.170, respectively). On average, the COMB group performed 17.0 ± 1.9% of the weekly training volume at HIIT and 83.1 ± 1.9% at MICT, whereas the MICT group spent 100% of the weekly training volume at MICT.