Putting It All Together: An Evidence-Based Guide to High-Intensity Interval Exercise Prescription for Patients With Complex Comorbidities

Abstract

A rapidly growing body of research supports the use of high-intensity interval training across a wide range of health conditions encountered in physical therapy practice. However, most studies have included carefully selected patients without multimorbidity, significant activity limitations, or participation restrictions. In addition, much of the evidence address these patients in the outpatient setting which makes translating outcomes into clinical practice difficult for multimorbid patient populations across the continuum of care. Therefore, the present clinical perspective aims to synthesize and apply the evidence for the prescription of function-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs to individuals with multiple, complex chronic diseases by (1) discussing the specific benefits of this type of exercise design for patients with multiple complex chronic health conditions; (2) highlighting the overlapping guidance for numerous conditions; (3) applying the evidence to designing individualized, functional HIIT programs to achieve functional improvement in addition to cardiorespiratory fitness; and (4) providing an example of functional HIIT program creation to demonstrate clinically relevant considerations. Clinical decision-making related to patient monitoring and safety is emphasized.