International  Journal  of
Environmental Research
and Public Health
Article
The Effect of Eight-Week Sprint Interval Training on Aerobic
Performance of Elite Badminton Players
Haochong Liu 1, Bo Leng 2, Qian Li 2, Ye Liu 1, Dapeng Bao 1,* and Yixiong Cui 3,*


Citation: Liu, H.; Leng, B.; Li, Q.;
Liu, Y.; Bao, D.; Cui, Y. The Effect of
Eight-Week Sprint Interval Training
on Aerobic Performance of Elite
Badminton Players. Int. J. Environ.
Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 638.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph
18020638
Received: 27 November 2020
Accepted: 8 January 2021
Published: 13 January 2021
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1
China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China;
liuhaochong1011@gmail.com (H.L.); olliejanessatdu62@gmail.com (Y.L.)
2
Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China; lengbo@bsu.edu.cn (B.L.);
2020110023@bsu.edu.cn (Q.L.)
3
AI Sports Engineering Lab, School of Sports Engineering, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
*
Correspondence: baodp@bsu.edu.cn (D.B.); cuiyixiong@bsu.edu.cn (Y.C.)
Abstract: This study was aimed to: (1) investigate the effects of physiological functions of sprint
interval training (SIT) on the aerobic capacity of elite badminton players; and (2) explore the potential
mechanisms of oxygen uptake, transport and recovery within the process. Thirty-two elite badminton
players volunteered to participate and were randomly divided into experimental (Male-SIT and
Female-SIT group) and control groups (Male-CON and Female-CON) within each gender. During
a total of eight weeks, SIT group performed three times of SIT training per week, including two
power bike trainings and one multi-ball training, while the CON group undertook two Fartlek
runs and one regular multi-ball training. The distance of YO-YO IR2 test (which evaluates player’s
ability to recover between high intensity intermittent exercises) for Male-SIT and Female-SIT groups
increased from 1083.0 ± 205.8 m to 1217.5 ± 190.5 m, and from 725 ± 132.9 m to 840 ± 126.5 m
(p < 0.05), respectively, which were signiﬁcantly higher than both CON groups (p < 0.05). For the Male-
SIT group, the ventilatory anaerobic threshold and ventilatory anaerobic threshold in percentage of
VO2max signiﬁcantly increased from 3088.4 ± 450.9 mL/min to 3665.3 ± 263.5 mL/min (p < 0.05),and
from 74 ± 10% to 85 ± 3% (p < 0.05) after the intervention, and the increases were signiﬁcantly
higher than the Male-CON group (p < 0.05); for the Female-SIT group, the ventilatory anaerobic
threshold and ventilatory anaerobic threshold in percentage of VO2max were signiﬁcantly elevated
from 1940.1 ± 112.8 mL/min to 2176.9 ± 78.6 mL/min, and from 75 ± 4% to 82 ± 4% (p < 0.05)
after the intervention, which also were signiﬁcantly higher than those of the Female-CON group
(p < 0.05). Finally, the lactate clearance rate was raised from 13 ± 3% to 21 ± 4% (p < 0.05) and from
21 ± 5% to 27 ± 4% for both Male-SIT and Female-SIT groups when compared to the pre-test, and
this increase was signiﬁcantly higher than the control groups (p < 0.05). As a training method, SIT
could substantially improve maximum aerobic capacity and aerobic recovery ability by improving
the oxygen uptake and delivery, thus enhancing their rapid repeated sprinting ability.
Keywords: interval training; badminton; aerobic; repeated sprint; testing
1. Introduction
Badminton is a fast and dynamic sport, which has high requirements for the player’s
rapid reaction, fast action and high-speed hitting ability. Studies have shown that there
are on average 5–9 strokes in badminton games [1]. Due to its fastball speed, high swing
frequency and short interval time, badminton requires players to mainly compete with fast
running, sudden acceleration, abrupt stop, change of direction and continuously high inten-
sity of multiple rallies, which requires a player’s well-developed aerobic endurance [2,3].
Due to the inﬂuence of players’ strength level, badminton competition is easy to form
a multi-round competition, which requires higher aerobic working capacity. Particularly,
a relevant study has indicated that badminton players usually reach an average heart rate
of over 90% of their HRmax during competitive games, which is demanding to both aerobic
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 638. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020638
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 638
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and anaerobic systems: 60–70% on the aerobic system and 30% on the anaerobic system,
with a greater demand on alactic metabolism [3].
Previous research [3,4] has shown that various physiological parameters had a strong
correlation with badminton performance. Particularly, aerobic capacity and intermit-
tent exercise performance are positively correlated, involving VO2max, lactate/anaerobic
threshold and running efﬁciency [5]. However, practically, due to the limited training
time, the traditional long-period aerobic endurance training would not be the most suitable
modality for the actual needs of current competition. Therefore, it is essential to explore
time-efﬁcient and badminton-speciﬁc ﬁtness training programs.
As one of the advocated alternatives to traditional continuous aerobic training, Sprint
Interval Training (SIT) is a training approach that asks athletes to complete the required
actions at maximum effort in a short period of time, and takes active rest with limited
recovery time between two sets of training. Meanwhile, as the active rest often lasts
only 3–5 min between multiple short and full sprint training, SIT can effectively improve
the performance of athletes in intermittent sports with substantially lower overall training
volume [6].
In recent years, there have been many studies on the training effect of SIT on sports
performance in other intermittent sports such as soccer, basketball, volleyball and ﬁeld
hockey [7]. Among them, Buchan [8] and Bayati et al. [9] conducted a 6-week 30-s full-
speed sprint running and rowing training experiment. Each training was carried out
in 4–6 rounds, with 4 min of low-intensity activities serving as an active rest interval be-
tween groups. The results showed that the maximum oxygen uptake, peak power, average
power and aerobic capacity signiﬁcantly improved compared with those of the control
group. Meanwhile, the study by Jone et al. [10] proved that ﬁeld hockey players’ muscle
oxygenation kinetics and performance during the 30–15 intermittent ﬁtness test (30-s shut-
tle runs with 15-s passive recovery) were signiﬁcantly improved after 6-week of Sprint
Interval Cycling. Additionally, Burgomaster [11] and Gibala et al. [12] also conducted
similar comparative experiments between traditional endurance training and SIT on young
healthy individuals. Their results showed that the SIT group shortened the training time
by about 80%, and the participants’ aerobic capacity was signiﬁcantly improved.
Nonetheless, currently, there are few attempts to investigate the application of SIT
to badminton training. This study was, therefore aimed to explore the effect of SIT on
improving players’ aerobic capacity, as well as the mechanism of oxygen uptake and
transport, by testing the changes of badminton players’ rapid and repeated sprinting
ability and related aerobic capacity parameters before and after 8 weeks of SIT. It was
hypothesized that such training would induce greater improvement in before-mentioned
parameters compared to traditional continuous aerobic training.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Participants
Thirty-two elite players from who had played in or beyond the semi-ﬁnals of Bad-
minton Championship at National level volunteered to participate in the study. There were
sixteen male and female players, respectively, and they were randomly divided into male
Sprint Interval Training (SIT) group (n = 8) and control (CON) group (n = 8), and female
SIT group (n = 8) and CON group (n = 8). Detailed information about different groups can
be found in Table 1. All subjects were in good health and had no severe injuries during
the last six months before the study. Prior to the formal experiment and test, the nature and
possible risks were explained to the participants, and they provided their written informed
consent to participate. The tests were conducted at least 48 h after competitive match or
heavy training session. The subjects participated in all the training sessions as well as pre-
and post- training tests. All procedures were approved by Research Ethics Committee of
Beijing Sport University (Approval number: 2020008H). All procedures were conducted
in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Table 1. Personal information of participating players.
Group
N
Age (year)
Height (cm)
Weight (kg)
Training Age (year)
HRmax (bpm)
Male-SIT
8
20.0 ± 1.3
179.6 ± 3.6
73.8 ± 6.9
12.1 ± 2.2
190.7 ± 8.8
Male-CON
8
21.5 ± 2.2
177.1 ± 7.1
72.4 ± 6.7
13.2 ± 3.2
191.8 ± 6.2
Female-SIT
8
20.5 ± 1.4
168.5 ± 4.2
62.6 ± 4.2
9.5 ± 1.2
181.9 ± 8.9
Female-CON
8
19.4 ± 1.5
168.2 ± 4.8
61.3 ± 4.2
9.8 ± 1.5
180.4 ± 8.5
Note: SIT = Sprint Interval Training; CON = Control; HRmax = maximum heart rate.
2.2. Procedures
For eight weeks, the CON group followed previous training routines of two Fartlek
running sessions and one regular multi-ball feeding training per week, which was a tra-
ditionally employed aerobic training protocol for these badminton players. Meanwhile,
the SIT group carried out sprint interval training three times a week, including two power
bicycle training sessions with a Monark 894E exercise bike (Monark Exercise AB, Vansbro,
Sweden), which has high reliability of weight loading for anaerobic testing or training [13],
and one SIT-speciﬁc multi-ball training session. Pedaling is a closed-chain exercise, and
is relatively easier for the players to acquire correct technique and to achieve expected
training effect from an injury-prevention perspective. Moreover, it is practically applicable
to indoor badminton courts training during winter or in bad weather condition. The train-
ing intervention was designed and modiﬁed based on the previous literature [10,14,15].
The detailed training plan and description are shown in Table 2.
The Polar Team2 System (Polar Electro Oy, Kemple, Finland) was used to monitor
the heart rate of each player throughout each training session, with data later extracted
from custom-speciﬁc software (Polar Team2, Electro Oy, Kemple, Finland), in order to
obtain maximum heart rate (HRmax), time spent in each HRmax% zone and Training
impulse (TRIMP). TRIMP takes into account the training duration and intensity at the same
time, and reﬂects the comprehensive effect of training on the internal and external load of
the athlete’s body, as well as the load of medium and high intensity training. The method
to determine the athlete’s TRIMP in the current study is based on the formula proposed by
Edwards [16], where the time in each HRmax% zone is multiplied by the corresponding
weighting factor for that zone and the results summated (see Table 3 for detailed description
of the zone and factors). The HRmax of each player was established using the peak value
recorded by the monitoring system during the training.
Table 2. Weekly training plan for two groups during the study.
Group
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
SIT
SIT Cycling Training
1–2 min 50 W cycling, prepare to 30 s cycling with full force, the load is
0.075/kg of weight individualized to each player’s body weight [17,18],
between-group rest: 5 min
5 groups in total
SIT-speciﬁc Multiple Balls Training
30 s × 8 groups × 2 rounds of
multi-ball training, intensity: > 90%
HRmax
between-group rest: 5 min
between-round rest: 8 min
CON
Traditional Training:
40 min of Fartlek Run
(Intensity: 65–79% HRmax)
Traditional Multiple Ball Training:
1 min × 4 groups × 2 rounds of
continuous multi-ball training
between-group rest: 5 min
between-round rest: 8 min
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Table 3. HRmax% zones and corresponding weighting factors.
Zone
Weighting Factor
HRmax%
I
1
50–60%
II
2
60–70%
III
3
70–80%
IV
4
80–90%
V
5
90–100%
2.3. Test Program
Before and after 8 weeks of training, four groups all participated in a set of testing,
which included YO-YO IR2 intermittent recovery test, analysis of the increasing load gas
metabolism and lactate clearance rate test.
2.3.1. YO-YO Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 (YO-YO IR2 Test)
Speed endurance level is generally reﬂected by short bursts of repetitive sprints (RS),
which requires subjects to try their best to accomplish the fastest speed in each repetitive
sprint, and this ability is generally evaluated via the YO-YO IR2 test during ﬁeld-test [6].
The test is based on increasing and intermittent load protocol, and evaluates player’s ability
to recover between high intensity intermittent exercises. Moreover, it has been proven to
validly monitor training effects [19].
After dynamic warm-up, players perform a combination of running to and fro on
a 20 m course and a 10-s interval of active rest after 40 m, and players quit the test when
the subjective exhaustion occurs or when they drop behind the required pace or make one
of the errors listed below for a second time:
(i)
does not come to a complete stop before starting the next 40 m run;
(ii)
starts the run before the audio signal;
(iii)
does not reach/either line before the audio signal;
(iv)
turns at the 20 m mark without touching or crossing the line (therefore running short).
The starting speed starts at 13 km/h, and increases to 15 km/h, 16 km/h, and then
increases by 0.5 km/h thereafter. The ﬁnal running distance is then recorded. The speed of
each bout is controlled by an audio recorder. All subjects were familiarized with the test
within a one-minute trial.
2.3.2. Analysis of Increasing Load of Gas Metabolism and Test of Lactate Clearance Rate
An incremental load test was performed using an incremental load treadmill (H/P
Cosmos, Germany). Warm-up exercises should be performed for 5–10 min before each test.
At the beginning of the test, the starting speed of the treadmill was set at 6 km/h, increasing
by 1 km/h per minute, until 16 km/h, when the speed was stopped and the slope increased
by 1.5% per minute, until the subject was exhausted. Relevant ventilation indicators such
as maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VT-VO2) and
ventilatory anaerobic threshold in percentage of VO2max (VT/VO2max) were measured
using a gas metabolism analyzer (Max I, Physio-Dyne Instrument Corp., New York, USA).
Among them, VT is determined according to the following criteria:
In the incremental load test, the VT value is determined (i) when the ratio of ventilation
(VE) to carbon dioxide production (VCO2) shows a non-linear increase in the inﬂection
point, and (ii) when the load intensity reaches a certain level, and the ratio of VE to
oxygen consumption (VO2) increases sharply [20]. VT is determined by two independent
investigators. When they are not coherent, and if the difference between the two selected
results is remarkable, the value of VT needs to be determined again, while, if the difference
could be overlooked, the average value is taken.
Next, in order to analyze the aerobic recovery speed of athletes after increasing load
and to evaluate their recovery ability after aerobic exercise, blood samples were collected
for rest (before testing with players being seated) and 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 min immediately
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 638
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after the increasing load test via a volume of 20 microliters of ﬁngertip blood. The EKF
Biosen s-line automatic blood lactate analyzer (EKF-diagnostic GmbH, Barleben, Germany)
was used to measure blood lactate, with the results being later recorded with the lactate
clearance rate being calculated using the following formula [21]:
LA10% = LAmax − LA10
LAmax − LArest
× 100%
where LA10% means the lactate clearance rate at 10 min after testing, LAmax represents
the peak lactic value after testing, LA10 is the lactate value at 10 min after testing and LArest
the value of lactate before testing.
2.4. Statistical Analysis
Experimental data were processed by SPSS statistical software package (version 23.0,
Chicago, IL, USA); all test results before and after training were presented using the average
± standard deviation (x ± s). The normality of the tests results was checked before
the subsequent analysis. A repetitive measure analysis of variance was then used to
compare the within and between group difference in test outcomes for both genders, with
the statistical signiﬁcance level deﬁned as p < 0.05. Pairwise differences and post hoc
comparisons were tested with the Bonferroni post hoc test. Besides, the effect size (ES) was
calculated using Cohen’s d to quantify the amount of change before and after each group
of training and to reﬂect the comparison of training effects between SIT and CON groups
based on the following scales: <0.2 trivial, 0.2–0.6 small, 0.6–1.2 moderate, 1.2–2.0 large
and >2.0 very large [22].
3. Results
3.1. Training Intensity and Time Used During Training
Table 4 shows the descriptive statistics of heartrate and time within the 8-week training,
and the results show that the average heart rate and maximum heart rate of both male and
female SIT groups during training were signiﬁcantly higher than those of the CON groups
(p < 0.05). Moreover, the effective training time of the former was signiﬁcantly less than
that of the latter (p < 0.05).
Table 4. Intensity monitoring during training.
Group
N
Avg HR (bpm)
HRmax (bpm)
Total Training Time (min)
Effective Training Time (min)
Male-SIT
8
132.7 ± 7.3 *
190.7 ± 8.8 *
52.7 ± 4.1
19.8 ± 3.0 *
Male-CON
8
126.0 ± 10.2
169.8 ± 6.2
78.5 ± 4.5
40.2 ± 1.8
Female-SIT
8
134.1 ± 6.0 *
181.9 ± 8.9 *
52.7 ± 4.1
19.8 ± 3.0 *
Female-CON
8
115.4 ± 8.4
169.4 ± 8.5
78.5 ± 4.5
40.2 ± 1.8
Note: Values are expressed as means ± SD. * indicates signiﬁcant difference between SIT and CON group, p < 0.05.
During the 8-week training, the mean weekly effective training time (time spent within
50–100% HRmax zone) and TRIMP in the 80–100% HRmax intensity range of the Male-SIT
group were signiﬁcantly higher than those in the Male-CON group (p < 0.05), while the total
weekly effective training time and TRIMP for the former were signiﬁcantly lower than
the latter (p < 0.05). As for female players, the average weekly effective training time and
TRIMP in the 90–100%HRmax intensity range for the Female-SIT group were signiﬁcantly
higher than those in the Female-CON group (p < 0.05). However, in the intensity range
of 80–90% HRmax, no differences were found between the F-SIT and F-CON groups.
The overall effective training time and TRIMP for Female-SIT were signiﬁcantly lower than
those in Female-CON as well (p < 0.05), as is shown in Figure 1.
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Figure 1. Comparisons of weekly effective training time and training impulse (TRIMP) between SIT and CON groups. Note:
* Indicates a signiﬁcant difference between SIT and CON group, p < 0.05.
3.2. Comparisons of Testing Results Before and After Training Intervention
After training, the running distance of the YO-YO IR2 and the lactate clearance rate at
10 min after testing (LA10%) signiﬁcantly increased in both the Male-SIT and the Female-SIT
group (p < 0.05), and such improvement was signiﬁcantly higher than that of the CON
groups (p < 0.05), as is shown in Figure 2.
Meanwhile, as Table 5 demonstrates, VO2max, VT-VO2 and VT/VO2max for the SIT
group signiﬁcantly improved after the intervention (p < 0.05), and the improvement was
signiﬁcantly higher than that in the Male-CON group and Female-CON group (p < 0.05),
as is shown in Table 4.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 638
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Figure 2. Within- and between-group differences in YO-YO Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 (IR2) distance and lactate
clearance rate for SIT and CON groups before and after intervention. Note: * Indicates signiﬁcant difference between
SIT and CON group, p < 0.05; # indicates signiﬁcant within-group difference before and after intervention, p < 0.05; ES:
effect size.
Table 5. Within- and between-group differences in gas metabolism analysis for SIT and CON groups
before and after intervention.
Group
VO2max
(mL/kg/min)
VT-VO2 (mL/min)
VT/VO2max (%)
Male-SIT
pre
56.8 ± 7.0
3088.4 ± 450.9
73.8 ± 9.7
post
63.6 ± 4.7 #,*
3665.3 ± 263.5 #,*
84.8 ± 3.37 #,*
ES
1.14
1.56
1.51
Male-CON
pre
55.8 ± 8.0
2962.5 ± 743.4
80.2 ± 1.5
post
57.7 ± 6.7
3004.1 ± 738.1
80.8 ± 2.3
ES
0.26
0.06
0.31
Female-SIT
pre
42.5 ± 2.9
1940.1 ± 112.9
0.75 ± 0.04
post
46.2 ± 3.0 *,#
2176.9 ± 78.6 *,#
0.82 ± 0.04 *,#
ES
1.28
1.11
1.75
Female-CON
pre
42.9 ± 1.6
1930.7 ± 151.8
0.75 ± 0.06
post
43.3 ± 2.1
2055.3 ± 160.7
0.78 ± 0.08
ES
0.21
0.79
0.42
Note: * Indicates signiﬁcant difference between SIT and CON group, p < 0.05; # indicates signiﬁcant
within-group difference before and after intervention, p < 0.05; ES: effect size.
4. Discussion
This study was aimed to explore the effect of 8-weeks of SIT on the aerobic capacity
of badminton players. The results showed that their performance in the YO-YO IR2 test,
the lactate clearance rate, VO2max, VT-VO2 and VT/VO2max were signiﬁcantly enhanced
in a time-efﬁcient manner, compared to the control group, which conﬁrms the hypothesis
of this research.
The badminton match is highly demanding to a player’s aerobic capacity due to the dif-
ferences in individual physical ﬁtness and the appearance of the new scoring model [4,5].
Under such situation, the competition rhythm is obviously accelerated and the proportion
of multiple rallies is gradually increased, which forces players to endure longer periods
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of rapid and repeated accelerations and decelerations [23]. In the Male-SIT and Female-
SIT groups, the time spent and TRIMP values in the 80–100% HRmax intensity interval
accounted for the highest proportion, suggesting that SIT enables the body to complete
multiple short-time and high-intensity outputs under the continuous incomplete recov-
ery state, which is more in line with the current badminton competition characteristics
and demands. In contrast to the previous training programs where all subjects routinely
undertook Fartlek running, the 30-s SIT is a training mode closer to the maximum phys-
iological load intensity of players, and the features of its time structure are also closer
to the actual combat of badminton competition. It is an effective training program to
improve a player’s aerobic capacity. Previously, it was reported that SIT could induce
skeletal muscle metabolism, increase capillaries and mitochondrial proliferation, enhance
oxidase activity and improve peripheral vascular function and peripheral ﬁtness of skeletal
muscle [24]. When training intensity exceeded 90%VO2max, SIT could simultaneously
improve oxygen uptake and transport ability of the cardiopulmonary system and skeletal
muscle [25]. Ermanno et al., found that intermittent exercise could activate the energy
supply of the aerobic system in advance and reduce the proportion of the energy sup-
ply of the anaerobic system, thus delaying the generation of fatigue [25]. These changes
in the body were physiological feedback for SIT. While the training improved the player’s
ability to maintain high-intensity exercise for a long time in competition and training, their
ability to recover from fast running could be improved, consequently achieving the goal of
improving aerobic capacity.
Moreover, this study found that after 8 weeks of SIT, players’ VO2max, VT-VO2 and
VT/VO2max increased signiﬁcantly, implying that the proportion of exercise intensity
lower than the anaerobic threshold for the body was increased under the same testing
protocol. The time players take to enter the anaerobic glycolytic process would be post-
poned, thus reducing the consumption of glycogen. At the same time, the movement of
the body would become more efﬁcient, and eventually the maximum aerobic capacity of
the players would be improved [26]. Previous studies showed that by inducing skeletal
muscle metabolism, SIT could increase capillary proliferation, mitochondrial prolifera-
tion, enhance the activity and oxidation of glycolytic oxidase and improve peripheral
vascular function and skeletal muscle peripheral adaptability [14,27]. Studies with similar
schemes applied to the general population showed that the oxygen uptake and transport
capacity were improved via a series of changes, such as increased capillary density and
blood volume, decreased heart rate and increased stroke output, when the same exercise
intensity was completed. At this time, the body showed certain adaptability. In practice,
with the improvement of the body’s oxygen uptake ability, elite badminton players could
prolong the time of oxygen supply and enter the hypoxemia state later in the competition,
which could effectively improve their match performance during the competition. Besides,
although some research showed certain discrepancies in results, we found that after the SIT,
no signiﬁcant increase in VO2max was indicated. It would be inferred that the effect of such
modality would be conditioned by factors such as the level of training, whether the subjects
undertake regular training and the body weight.
Aerobic recovery ability has a direct impact on players’ on-court performance. High-
intensity and high-load activity during competition would produce physiological fatigue
and large amount of lactate accumulation in the skeletal muscle. Changes in the internal
responses of the body may cause players’ physical dysfunction and decline in athletic per-
formance [28,29]. Therefore, rapid recovery ability is the key prerequisite for decent physi-
cal and technical performance during the competition. This study analyzed the changes
in skeletal muscle’s oxygen recovery ability from both physiological and biochemical
perspectives.
Blood lactate is one of the most commonly used biochemical indicators to detect
the body fatigue recovery status [30], and the accumulation of lactate may indirectly lead
to reduced performance, because the conversion of lactic acid to lactate releases H+ that
leads to a metabolic acidosis with subsequent inhibition of glycolytic rate-limiting enzymes,
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 638
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lipolysis and contractility of the skeletal muscles [31]. From the results, it was shown that
SIT performed at a higher level of intensity could positively inﬂuence the clearance of
lactate after exercise, increasing intra-cellular alkali reserve and slowing the pH reduction
in muscles, and delaying the onset of fatigue [21]. Consequently, players’ ability to recover
from intermittent activities was enhanced and they would be better prepared for the next
point and game [32]. In particular, at the ﬁnal game and the last points of each game, each
point would be ended with prolonged multiple-strokes and high-intensity movements,
which might even last couple of minutes. Under such circumstances, possessing rapid
aerobic recovery would become a key factor determining elite player’s aerobic endurance
and technical-tactical performance in the next point [33]. In the study conducted by Jones
et al. [10], near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure muscle oxygenation of the vastus
lateralis of elite women hockey players for SIT groups and endurance training groups.
Their results showed that there were signiﬁcant increases in tissue deoxyhaemoglobin +
deoxymyoglobin (HHb + HMb) and tissue oxygenation (TSI%), and a signiﬁcant decrease
in tissue oxyhaemoglobin + oxymyoglobin (HbO2 + MbO2), which indicated ‘positive
peripheral muscle oxygen adaptations’ occurring in response to SIT training. Moreover,
existing literature also stated that the higher exercise intensity provided during SIT would
increase the probability of favorable adaptations in both type one and type two ﬁbers
as opposed to the generally lower intensity of endurance training [34]. Although as
a limitation, the current study was unable to measure blood saturation, it could be implied
that the SIT protocol might promote the skeletal muscle oxidative capacity of badminton
players after the training. Nonetheless, future studies should look into the changes of
EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption), body temperature and ventilation to
comprehensively verify the improvement in recovery after such intervention.
5. Conclusions
Eight-week SIT effectively improved the aerobic exercise capacity of elite badminton
players, particularly considering oxygen uptake and recovery ability, and the adaptability
of skeletal muscle to exercising load. Eventually, the rapidly repeated sprint ability and
physical performance of players were enhanced. The study has provided evidence-based
ﬁndings that as a time-efﬁcient training alternative, SIT could be suitable to be included
in the training routine for badminton players.
However, it is acknowledged that this study also has certain limitations. The technical
and tactical performance was not considered, which might be another representative
indicator of improved aerobic capacity. Moreover, anaerobic endurance training, strength
training and functional training are also of vital importance for badminton players and their
joint effect on aerobic training was not investigated within the current program. Future
research is suggested to look into these aspects to better inform sport-speciﬁc training
prescription.
Author Contributions: Conceptualization, H.L., Q.L. and D.B.; methodology, H.L., B.L., Q.L. and
D.B.; software, Q.L. and Y.C.; validation, H.L., Q.L., D.B. and Y.C.; formal analysis, H.L., Q.L. and Y.C.;
investigation, H.L., Q.L. and Y.L.; resources, B.L. and D.B.; data curation, H.L. and Q.L.; writing—
original draft preparation, H.L., Q.L., D.B. and Y.C.; writing—review and editing, H.L., Q.L. and
Y.C.; visualization, Q.L. and Y.C.; supervision, D.B. and Y.C.; project administration, D.B. and Y.C.;
funding acquisition, D.B. and Y.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of
the manuscript.
Funding: This work was supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program
of China under grants 2020AAA0103404 and 2018YFC2000600, and by National Natural Science
Foundation of China under grant 72071018. The corresponding author (Y.C.) was supported by
the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020T130067).
Institutional Review Board Statement: The study was conducted according to the guidelines of
the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Sport University
(2020008H, 17/01/2020).
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 638
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Informed Consent Statement: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.
Conﬂicts of Interest: The authors declare no conﬂict of interest.
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The Effect of Eight-Week Sprint Interval Training on Aerobic Performance of Elite Badminton Players.
Liu, Haochong,Leng, Bo,Li, Qian,Liu, Ye,Bao, Dapeng,Cui, Yixiong