The end results of the High-Intensity Interval Training can be truly amazing, but there are definitely downsides and considerations that have been noted by past participants and other observers. The following is a listing of the drawbacks to this specific workout regimen:
- High Impact - For people with joint or back problems, they will need to be careful to do the appropriate modified exercises. There is a tendency in the HIIT to lean toward high impact exercises which means you may need to seek out the appropriate modifications and maybe be a little more patient if you have substantial weight loss goals. Using the modified, low-impact versions of the exercises can absolutely raise your heart rate and increase your overall fitness, but you may find the level of intensity is slightly lower than your high impact counterparts so be patient. Remember, it is about long term physical fitness.
- Maintaining Proper Form – Because many HIIT workouts involve doing things very quickly, participants can sometimes lose good form in their exercises which can result in harm. This is true whether you are using weights or not but can be more likely if you are using weights. The number of repetitions you can do is always in the context of how many you can do and still maintain form and control.
- Not Working all Muscle Groups – HIIT makes it easy for someone to build his or her own home or gym workout. That is both a blessing and a curse. It allows for a lot of flexibility but it also means that someone building their own program can focus too much on certain muscle groups while not engaging others. For instance, it is really easy to do aerobic activities that engage the legs but do little to include the upper body. If you are designing your own plan, be sure to include full body exercises that engage all of the major muscle groups.
Although high intensity interval training provides many great benefits and few downsides, be sure to consult with your doctor. Programs that use HIIT will improve your overall conditioning but it will significantly raise your heart rate so it is important to know if you are physically able to participate.
