Measuring gene expression in endurance athletes as a novel technique for determining training response to sprint interval training (SIT).

The aim of the proposed study was to investigate two different regimes of high intensity exercise (low-volume/high-frequency and high-volume/low-frequency) in 26 well-trained endurance cyclists, measure their effect on both physiological changes and gene expression changes, and determine whether the changes caused by HIT are due to total work or are regime-dependent. Overall, however, this study allowed researchers to obtain an increased understanding of the physiological and gene expression adaptations that can result from high intensity training and determined that training regime influences performance outcome. By implementing the minimum training regime necessary to obtain performance improvements it may be possible to optimise athlete response to training whilst avoid overtraining and illness. Additionally, no alteration in gene expression was detected after the training intervention, possibly due to that the effect size investigated being smaller than anticipated. Further research in this area may provide sport coaches, exercise physiologists,sport scientists, and athletes another tool to optimise training prescription for athletes as well as evaluating and monitoring an individual’s biological response to exercise.