Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of interval running on treadmill and on field upon physiological variables in male youths. Male students of Faculty of Sports Science, Chulalongkorn University, aged 19-23 years were recruited. They were divided into 2 groups which were treadmill interval (n=15) and field interval (n=15) training groups. Both groups performed training assigned program that consisted of three intervals of high-intensity work (75-85%MaxHR)/low-intensity work (55-65 %MaxHR). In weeks 1-6, the interval training programs were performed at the ratio of 1:1 (4 minutes: 4 minutes) and weeks 7-12 at the ratio of 1.5:1 (6 minutes: 4 minutes). Physiological variables including body weight, body fat, resting heart rate, maximum heart rate, maximum oxygen consumption, cardiac output, and leg muscle strength at the positions of knee extension and knee flexion were measured at before the training, after week 6 training, and after week 12 training and then analyzed statistically. The results are as follow : 1. After week 12 training, both treadmill and field interval training groups showed significant increase in maximal oxygen consumption and leg muscle strength (p<.05). 2. There were no significant difference in body weight, body fat, heart rate at rest, maximal heart rate, cardiac output and maximal oxygen consumption between treadmill and field interval training groups. However, field interval training group had significantly higher in leg muscle strength at the knee extension and knee flexion position than treadmill interval training group (p<.05). In conclusion, treadmill and field interval training do not provide different results in terms of development in cardio-respiratory system but field interval training provides greater improvement in leg strength than treadmill interval training.