Impact of interval training on physical fitness and physiological responses of special Olympic Bharat male football players

Abstract

Background: Football performance requires optimal speed, agility, muscular endurance, and cardiovascular efficiency, particularly among Special Olympic athletes who face unique physiological and functional demands. Methods: Thirty Special Olympic football players (mean age: 21.13 ± 2.13 years; height: 170.93 ± 3.05 cm; BMI: 21.50 ± 0.66 kg/m²) participated in a three-week pre-post experimental design. A structured high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program was implemented six days per week with Sunday rest. Physical and physiological parameters were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Significant improvements were observed in sprint performance (50 m: 6.86 ± 0.10 s to 6.64 ± 0.10 s; t = 159.76, p<0.001, d = −29.17), agility (shuttle run: 11.27 ± 0.17 s to 10.96 ± 0.16 s; t = 85.47, p<0.001, d = −15.61), and muscular endurance (sit-ups: 37.93 ± 2.35 to 42.90 ± 2.35; t = −149.00, p<0.001, d = 27.20). Resting heart rate significantly decreased (p<0.001), indicating improved cardiovascular efficiency and autonomic adaptation. However, no significant changes were found in body weight, BMI, maximal heart rate, vital capacity, or standing broad jump (p>0.05), suggesting that short-term HIIT primarily enhances functional and cardiovascular performance rather than structural body composition. Conclusion: The three-week sport-specific HIIT intervention effectively improved speed, agility, muscular endurance, and cardiovascular efficiency in Special Olympic football players, demonstrating its practical value for short-term performance enhancement.