Effects of High-Intensity vs. High-Volume Training on Repeated Sprint Ability in Competitive Paraswimmers

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effects of reduced volume high-intensity interval training (HI) compared to high-volume, moderate-intensity training (HV) on cardiorespiratory responses, body composition, and repeated sprint ability (RSA) in competitive swimmers with physical and intellectual impairments. We hypothesized that the HI group would demonstrate similar physiological and performance adaptations, including improvements in body composition and RSA, to those in the HV group. Methods Twenty-four national-level paraswimmers (19 male, 5 female; classes S5–S10 and S14) participated in a 4-week intervention with two sessions per week. Participants were randomly assigned to a HI group or a HV group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included anthropometrics, body composition, physiological measures, and RSA performance through an 8×15 m freestyle sprint test. Performance metrics included fastest swim time (FS), total swim time (TS), ideal swim time (IS), and performance decrement (PD). Results No significant differences were observed between groups for physiological variables post-intervention. However, the HI group demonstrated significant improvements in IS, TS, and FS, while the HV group showed improvement only in TS. Both groups showed significant reductions in weight and fat percentage post-intervention. Conclusions HI was as effective as HV training in improving body composition and swimming performance among paraswimmers, with superior improvements only in RSA measures. These findings suggest that HI may offer a time-efficient training strategy for paraswimmers, potentially yielding important health benefits related to cardiovascular fitness and metabolic function. Future research should explore longer interventions, varied RSA protocols, and cardiovascular health outcomes in this population.