Influence of the Value of Effort on the effectivenes of HIIT on the physical and cognitive abilities of older adults

Abstract

As global societies experience continuous aging of the population, the strain of age-related physical and cognitive impairments on healthcare systems intensifies. Traditional interventions aimed at promoting physical fitness and preventing cognitive decline have demonstrated only limited and short-term effectiveness. This pilot study investigates the impact of the Value of Physical Effort (VoPE) on the effectiveness of a Jump High-Intensity Interval Training (Jump HIIT) intervention in enhancing physical and cognitive fitness among elderly individuals. Guided by the Theory of Learned Industriousness, I hypothesize that an increase in the VoPE, cultivated through participation in the intervention, will positively influence the effectiveness of Jump HIIT in improving physical and cognitive performance. Seventeen participants underwent extensive baseline and follow-up measurements, assessing various cognitive and physical performance parameters and engaged in a 10-12 week Jump HIIT intervention. A Bayesian analytical approach provides evidence supporting an increase in the VoPE and subsequently a positive influence on maximum jump height in the countermovement jump. However, mixed and inconclusive findings were observed for other physical and cognitive performance parameters. These preliminary findings suggest a potential benefit of increased VoPE, positively influencing the effectiveness of a Jump HIIT intervention. Nonetheless, robust conclusions require replication through a randomized controlled trial. Further research in the area of effort value should focus not only on exploring the mechanism of its formation but also on investigating the complex relationships with human behaviour, as piloted in this work.