Physiological Effects of Adding a Percentage of Body Weight During a 7 Week Stair Climbing Sprint Interval Training Program

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adding a percentage of bodyweight (BW) during a 7 week stair climbing (SC) sprint interval training (SIT) program on maximal oxygen consumption, body composition, and lower body peak power. Twenty-seven recreationally active males (22±2 yrs) were divided into 1 of 2 groups (non-weighted or weighted) and performed 4, 15 sec bouts of ‘all-out’ SC sprints separated by 90 secs of rest, 3x/week, for 7 weeks. Non-weighted stair climbers performed SC sprints without any additional load throughout the entire duration of the study, and weighted stair climbers performed SC sprints with a progressive load of 10% and 20% bodyweight (BW). After the first week of SC SIT, the weighted SC group increased to 10% BW for weeks 2-4, and 20% BW for weeks 5-7. Lower body peak power improvements were found after 4 and 7 weeks of SC SIT training, as well as maximal oxygen consumption improvements after 7 weeks of SC SIT for both non-weighted and weighted stair climbers with no significant differences between groups. These improvements in lower body peak power and maximal oxygen consumption are similar to previous SIT studies involving treadmills, cycle ergometers, and stair climbing. Also, the results indicate that the addition of a progressive load (10-20% BW) as in a weighted vest to SC SIT did not improve maximal oxygen consumption and lower body peak power when compared to non-weighted SC SIT since no additional physiological challenge (HR) was added with BW (10-20% BW) during SC SIT. Lastly, strength and conditioning coaches or personal trainers need to be cautious about adding a weighted vest to SC SIT since there is no added benefit in improving aerobic fitness or lower body peak power and may only increase the incidence of injury