Author Identifier (ORCID)

Chris R. Abbiss: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3940-5542

Kazunori Nosaka: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7373-4994

Abstract

Purpose: We compared the effects of high-intensity interval eccentric (EC) versus concentric cycling (CC) training on aerobic capacity, muscle function and morphology. Methods: Healthy men (19–56 y) performed EC (n = 9) or CC (n = 8) training twice a week for 8 weeks. The training progressed from 5 × 2-min intervals with 1-min rest to 7 × 2-min intervals with 30-s rest. EC and CC were matched for perceived effort, and progressed from 30 to 36% of concentric peak power output (PPO10s) for CC and from 45 to 70% PPO10s for EC. Changes in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), incremental concentric PPO (PPOinc), 6-min walking distance (6 MW), 10 s concentric PPO (PPO10s), maximal voluntary isometric contraction knee extensor strength (MVC), countermovement (CMJ) and squat jump height (SJ), quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA), and fascicle length (FL) and pennation angle (PA) of vastus lateralis were compared between EC and CC. Results: Greater (P < 0.05) changes in PPO10s (EC: 26.9 ± 10.5% vs. CC: 8.9 ± 8.0%, Hedges’g = 2.03), CMJ (3.9 ± 1.8 vs. − 3.3 ± 7.4%, g = 1.46), SJ (7.4 ± 4.7% vs. − 2.3 ± 4.4%, g = 2.26), and CSA (6.1 ± 4.7 vs. 0.1 ± 3.8%, g = 1.48) were observed after EC than CC. No significant differences between EC and CC were found for changes in VO2peak (3.7 ± 3.9 vs. 6.6 ± 6.9%, g = -0.55), PPOinc (6.0 ± 4.2 vs. 6.4 ± 4.6%, g = − 0.11), 6 MW (6.0 ± 4.2 vs. 6.4 ± 4.6%, g = -1.03) and MVC (12.5 ± 13.3 vs. 6.2 ± 8.3%, g = 0.59). FL and PA did not show significant changes after EC and CC. Conclusion: EC was more effective than CC for improving several markers of muscle function. High-intensity interval eccentric cycling appears to be suitable for simultaneously improving strength and endurance.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

1-1-2026

Volume

126

Publication Title

European Journal of Applied Physiology

Publisher

Springer

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Comments

Lipski, M., Trezise, J., Abbiss, C. R., & Nosaka, K. (2026). Superior effects of high-intensity interval eccentric cycling training on neuromuscular adaptations with similar aerobic adaptations to concentric cycling. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 126, 655-668. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-025-05848-5

First Page

655

Last Page

668

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1007/s00421-025-05848-5