Interrelationships of physical and physiological variables following HIIT in special Olympic football players

Abstract

This study examined the interrelationships among selected physical fitness and physiological variables in Special Olympic football players and explored whether coordinated adaptations were evident following a three-week High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) program. Thirty (n = 30) male Special Olympic football players aged 18-25 years participated in a pre-post experimental design. Physical fitness variables included speed, agility, muscular endurance, explosive strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance, while physiological parameters comprised resting heart rate, maximal heart rate, and vital capacity. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine baseline and post-intervention associations among variables, and Cronbach’s alpha assessed internal consistency. Strong positive correlations were observed among sprint performance, agility, muscular endurance, and endurance capacity, indicating integrated neuromuscular and metabolic functioning. Physiological measures such as vital capacity and resting heart rate demonstrated meaningful associations with performance variables, suggesting that cardiovascular and respiratory efficiency support functional output. Negative correlations were primarily related to time-based measures, reflecting improved performance with greater physiological efficiency. Cronbach’s alpha values were low, confirming that the selected variables represent multidimensional constructs rather than a single performance scale. Overall, the findings highlight that physical and physiological systems operate in a coordinated yet independent manner in Special Olympic athletes, and structured HIIT may enhance integrated functional adaptation relevant to football performance.