MILITARY MANAGEMENT QUARTERLY

MILITARY MANAGEMENT QUARTERLY

The Effect of Eight weeks of high-intensity functional training on exercise -induced muscle damage in students of Imam Ali Military University

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Iran .
2 Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Imam Ali Officers' University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Tehran
10.22034/iamu.2025.2061163.3186
Abstract
Introduction: Musculoskeletal injuries are among the most common injuries faced by military cadets. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of eight weeks of High-Intensity Functional Training on selected markers of cellular damage in cadets of Imam Ali Military University.
Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 45 military cadets were randomly selected and assigned to three groups of 15: HIIT, HIFT, and MICT. All three protocols HIIT (based on running at an intensity of 80 to 90% of maximum heart rate), HIFT (based on functional movements with body weight at an intensity of 80 to 90% of maximum heart rate), and MICT (running at a moderate intensity of 60 to 70% of maximum heart rate) were performed for 8 weeks, 3 days a week, for 30 minutes. Blood samples were taken before and after the exhaustion test (Astrand treadmill) and the levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase factors were measured by ELISA. 2×2 ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test was used to analyze the data.
Results: The findings showed that HIFT, HIIT, and MICT respectively reduced creatine kinase (CK) levels by 13.62%, 10.20%, and 4.89%, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels by 18.68%, 15.28%, and 12.52%. Additionally, HIFT was more effective than HIIT in reducing muscle damage indicators.
Conclusion: High-intensity functional training can be more effective in reducing muscle cellular damage, so it is more suitable for military cadets who require high levels of physical fitness.
Keywords
Subjects

 
·     Ben-Zeev, T., & Okun, E. (2021). High-intensity functional training: Molecular mechanisms and benefits. Neuromolecular medicine, 23(3), 335-338.
·     Brancaccio, P., Lippi, G., & Maffulli, N. (2010). Biochemical markers of muscular damage. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 48(6), 757-767. https://doi.org/doi:10.1515/CCLM.2010.179
·     Brancaccio, P., Maffulli, N., & Limongelli, F. M. (2007). Creatine kinase monitoring in sport medicine. British Medical Bulletin, 81-82(1), 209-230. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldm014
·     Callegari, G. A., Novaes, J. S., Neto, G. R., Dias, I., Garrido, N. D., & Dani, C. (2017). Creatine Kinase and Lactate Dehydrogenase Responses after Different Resistance and Aerobic Exercise Protocols. J Hum Kinet, 58, 65-72. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2017-0071
·     Feito, Y., Heinrich, K. M., Butcher, S. J., & Poston, W. S. C. (2018). High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT): Definition and Research Implications for Improved Fitness. Sports (Basel), 6(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6030076
·     Haddock, C. K., Poston, W. S., Heinrich, K. M., Jahnke, S. A., & Jitnarin, N. (2016). The Benefits of High-Intensity Functional Training Fitness Programs for Military Personnel. Mil Med, 181(11), e1508-e1514. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-15-00503
·     Heilbronn, B., Doma, K., Sinclair, W., Connor, J., Irvine-Brown, L., & Leicht, A. (2023). Acute fatigue responses to occupational training in military personnel: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Military Medicine, 188(5-6), 969-977.
·     Heinrich, K. M., Spencer, V., Fehl, N., & Poston, W. S. (2012). Mission essential fitness: comparison of functional circuit training to traditional Army physical training for active duty military. Mil Med, 177(10), 1125-1130. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-12-00143
·     Helén, J., Kyröläinen, H., Ojanen, T., Pihlainen, K., Santtila, M., Heikkinen, R., & Vaara, J. P. (2023). High-Intensity Functional Training Induces Superior Training Adaptations Compared With Traditional Military Physical Training. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 37(12). https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2023/12000/high_intensity_functional_training_induces.21.aspx
·     Kohneh Quchan, A. H. S., Yari, S. M., & Karami, E. (2024). The Comparison of Eight Weeks of High-intensity Functional Training with High-intensity Interval Training on Some Factors of Physical Fitness, Time to Exhaustion, and Lactate Levels in Officer Students. Journal of Military Medicine, 26(1).
·     Koury, J. C., Daleprane, J. B., Pitaluga-Filho, M. V., de Oliveira, C. F., Gonçalves, M. C., & Passos, M. C. F. (2016a). Aerobic Conditioning Might Protect Against Liver and Muscle Injury Caused by Short-Term Military Training. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 30(2), 454-460. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000001102
·     Koury, J. C., Daleprane, J. B., Pitaluga-Filho, M. V., de Oliveira, C. F., Gonçalves, M. C., & Passos, M. C. F. (2016b). Aerobic Conditioning Might Protect Against Liver and Muscle Injury Caused by Short-Term Military Training. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 30(2). https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2016/02000/aerobic_conditioning_might_protect_against_liver.21.aspx
·     Machado, A. F., Baker, J. S., Figueira Junior, A. J., & Bocalini, D. S. (2019). High-intensity interval training using whole-body exercises: training recommendations and methodological overview. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging, 39(6), 378-383. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpf.12433
·     Niknam, A., Gaeini, A. A., Hamidvand, A., Jahromi, M. K., Oviedo, G. R., Kordi, M., & Safarpour, F. (2025). High-intensity functional training modulates oxidative stress and improves physical performance in adolescent male soccer players: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 17(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-01037-7
·     Posnakidis, G., Aphamis, G., Giannaki, C. D., Mougios, V., Aristotelous, P., Samoutis, G., & Bogdanis, G. C. (2022). High-Intensity Functional Training Improves Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Neuromuscular Performance Without Inflammation or Muscle Damage. J Strength Cond Res, 36(3), 615-623. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000003516
·     Smith, C., Doma, K., Heilbronn, B., & Leicht, A. (2022). Effect of exercise training programs on physical fitness domains in military personnel: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Military Medicine, 187(9-10), 1065-1073.
·     Vaara, J. P., Groeller, H., Drain, J., Kyröläinen, H., Pihlainen, K., Ojanen, T., Connaboy, C., Santtila, M., Agostinelli, P., & Nindl, B. C. (2022). Physical training considerations for optimizing performance in essential military tasks. EUROPEAN Journal of sport science, 22(1), 43-57.
·     Vickers RR, Reynolds JH, Jordan JRHervig LK: An evaluation of a combat conditioning trial program, 2008. Available at http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA515101; accessed September 30, 2015.
·     Walker, T. B., Lennemann, L. M., Anderson, V., Lyons, W., & Zupan, M. F. (2011). Adaptations to a new physical training program in the combat controller training pipeline. J Spec Oper Med, 11(2), 37-44. https://doi.org/10.55460/xyke-p4n6
·     Wang, X., Soh, K. G., Samsudin, S., Deng, N., Liu, X., Zhao, Y., & Akbar, S. (2023). Effects of high-intensity functional training on physical fitness and sport-specific performance among the athletes: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Plos one, 18(12), e0295531.
·     Wilke, J., & Mohr, L. (2020). Chronic effects of high-intensity functional training on motor function: a systematic review with multilevel meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 21680. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78615-5
·     Yanovich, R., Hadid, A., Erlich, T., Moran, D. S., & Heled, Y. (2015). Physiological and cognitive military related performances after 10-kilometer march. Disaster Mil Med, 1, 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/2054-314x-1-6