Limited reproducibility of individual physiological adaptations to repeated endurance exercise training

Journal of Applied Physiology 2026 Open access

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Authors: Ingvill Urianstad Odden, Håvard Hamarsland, Tomas Urianstad Odden, Daniel Hammarström, Anne Mette Rustaden, Lise Koll, Marita Hanestadhaugen, Steen Larsen, Stian Ellefsen, Joar Hansen, Håvard Nygaard, Carsten Lundby
+1 more Knut Sindre Mølmen
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00154.2026
Cited by: 1
References: 56

Abstract

Repeating the same exercise training intervention within the same individuals after an adequate detraining period provides a direct test of whether physiological adaptations are reproducible within individuals. This study demonstrates that individual physiological adaptations to a repeated endurance training program are largely nonreproducible across multiple physiological and performance outcomes, despite highly standardized and closely supervised training conditions. The substantial within-individual response variability challenges the notion that physiological training responsiveness is a stable, trait-like characteristic.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Sports Performance and Training Cardiovascular and exercise physiology Muscle metabolism and nutrition

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Applied Physiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Volume
141
Issue
1
Pages
38–57
Publication date
4 June 2026
Language
EN