Letters to the Editor-in-Chief
SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS
Revisiting Tabata_s Protocol: Does It
Even Exist?
Dear Editor-in-Chief,
In a recent study, Logan et al. (4) tested the effects of an
adaptation of the ‘‘Tabata protocol’’ on the cardiometabolic
parameters of low-active male adolescents. The authors
stated that the participants performed one to five sets of
four repetitions of ‘‘all-out’’ maximum effort exercises last-
ing 20 s, interspaced with 10 s of passive rest periods.
According to the article, participants had the choice of
completing the training using different exercises, including
cycle ergometers and cross-trainers (a type of elliptical
trainer). Although the study yielded interesting results, we
would like to make some observations about its methods and
practical applications.
Twenty years ago, Tabata et al. (8) impressed the scien-
tific community by suggesting that a training protocol last-
ing 4 min was as, or more, efficient in increasing aerobic
power and anaerobic capacity than 1 h of moderately in-
tense activities. Although it is commonly suggested that
the original protocol was performed at 170% of V̇O2max (1),
the original study used the load necessary to perform seven
to nine repetitions of 20 s with a minimum velocity of
85 rpm (8), without reporting any specific intensity. The study
that used 170% of V̇O2max used five to six repetitions and
was published in 1997 (7). Apparently, both studies were
merged to form the recommendations that subsequently be-
come popular.
Our laboratories independently tried to replicate the
‘‘Tabata protocol’’ using 170% of the intensity associated
with the achievement of maximal oxygen uptake (iV̇O2max)
on a cycle ergometer, with most subjects interrupting the
exercise by the second or third bout. It appears that using
170% of iV̇O2max is unfeasible, because this intensity is
equivalent to running 400 m in 52 s (6). Therefore, it would
be unrealistic to propose that it is possible to accumulate
160 s of work at this same rate of intensity by using 20 s:10 s
intervals, especially if we consider that cycling elicits a
higher peripheral fatigue than running (2).
Perhaps due to difficulties in establishing the adequate
intensity and consequently replicating the original protocol,
there has been an increase in use of the ‘‘Tabata protocols’’
to perform generic forms of ‘‘all-out’’ efforts, as done by
Logan et al. (4). Although this has brought interesting re-
sults, the physiological responses of these variations do not
resemble the original proposition, and they seem to be only
feasible in calisthenics, but not replicable on ergometers.
When we attempted to use 20 s:10 s with all-out efforts on
a cycle ergometer, the participants could barely handle the
2070
Copyright © 2016 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
second bout due to peripheral fatigue and discomfort, even
with significant load reduction. In fact, protocols that use
20 s of all-out efforts on cycle ergometers usually use rest
intervals of 2 min with only three bouts per session (3).
Therefore, given our practical experience and theoretical
evidence presented, the inclusion of cycle ergometers in the
study of Logan et al. seems to be unrealistic, especially if
we consider that the study involved low-active male ado-
lescents. This limitation may also apply to other exercises
presented in the study protocol, especially the cross-trainer,
because elliptical trainers provide higher stress on the an-
aerobic metabolism than cycle ergometers (5), which would
accentuate peripheral fatigue and discomfort.
We think that it is important to address these issues, be-
cause other researchers and health professionals may be-
come frustrated when attempting to replicate the study
protocol. Moreover, we must use a more critical approach
regarding the reproducibility and feasibility of the ‘‘Tabata
protocol,’’ and make a special effort to address the unde-
niable gap that exists between the original protocol and its
adaptations.
Paulo Gentil
João Pedro Araújo Naves
Ricardo Borges Viana
Faculdade de Educa0ão Fı́sica e Dan0a
Universidade Federal de Goias
Goiânia, BRAZIL
Victor Coswig
Marcelo dos Santos Vaz
Charles Bartel
Fabrı́cio Boscolo Del Vecchio
Escola Superior de Educa0ão Fı́sica
Universidade Federal de Pelotas
Pelotas, BRAZIL
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001023
REFERENCES
1. Billat LV. Interval training for performance: a scientific and em-
pirical practice. Special recommendations for middle- and long-
distance running. Part II: anaerobic interval training. Sports Med.
2001;31(2):75–90.
2. Fitzsimons M, Dawson B, Ward D, Wilkinson A. Cycling and
running tests of repeated sprint ability. Aus J Sci Med Sport. 1993;
25(4):82–7.
3. Gillen JB, Martin BJ, MacInnis MJ, Skelly LE, Tarnopolsky MA,
Gibala MJ. Twelve weeks of sprint interval training improves in-
dices of cardiometabolic health similar to traditional endurance
 training despite a five-fold lower exercise volume and time com-
mitment. PLoS One. 2016;11(4):e0154075.
4. Logan GR, Harris N, Duncan S, Plank LD, Merien F, Schofield G.
Low-active male adolescents: a dose response to high-intensity in-
terval training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016;48(3):481–90.
5. Ozkaya O, Colakoglu M, Kuzucu EO, Delextrat A. An elliptical
trainer may render the Wingate all-out test more anaerobic.
J Strength Cond Res. 2014;28(3):643–50.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Copyright © 2016 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
6. Spencer MR, Gastin PB, Payne W. Energy system contribution
SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS
during 400 to 1500 metres running. N Studies Athl. 1996;11(4):59–66.
7. Tabata I, Irisawa K, Kouzaki M, Nishimura K, Ogita F, Miyachi M.
Metabolic profile of high intensity intermittent exercises. Med Sci
Sports Exerc. 1997;29(3):390–5.
8. Tabata I, Nishimura K, Kouzaki M, et al. Effects of moderate-
intensity endurance and high-intensity intermittent training on anaerobic
capacity and VO2max. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;28(10):1327–30.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercised 2071