High-Intensity Interval Training vs Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training for Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants working in cardiac rehabilitation, outpatient orthopedics with cardiac comorbidity, acute care, and wellness settings who want a clear account of how interval training compared with steady moderate training in patients with coronary artery disease.

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Physical therapist assistants deliver interventions under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist; evaluation, diagnosis and plan-of-care decisions remain with the physical therapist.

Intended audience

Physical Therapy

Level

Intermediate

Delivery format

Online, asynchronous, self-paced course: interactive reading with audio or video, and a scored post-test.

Based on

This course is based on a single published systematic review and meta-analysis. Every finding, number and conclusion presented in the course traces to that article.

Gao C, Yue Y, Wu D, Zhang J, Zhu S. Effects of high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training on cardiorespiratory and exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2025;20(2):e0314134. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0314134. PMID: 39977401. PMCID: PMC11841918.

Scope of this course

The course reports what this review found and how certain its authors were. It does not issue exercise prescriptions, and it does not add claims from outside the source article.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe the population, the two training approaches compared, and the outcomes examined in this systematic review of exercise training in coronary artery disease.
2. State the direction of the pooled findings for peak oxygen uptake, 6-minute walk distance, peak heart rate, left ventricular measures and blood pressure as the authors reported them.
3. Explain the limitations and evidence-quality ratings the authors identified that temper how confidently these findings can be carried into cardiac rehabilitation practice.

1. Start Here: How This Course Works
2. Podcast: Interval Training vs Steady Moderate Training in Cardiac Rehab (about nine minutes)
3. Coronary Artery Disease, HIIT and MICT: The Question Under Review
4. How the Review Was Built: Searching, Screening and Grading the Trials
5. What the Pooled Trials Showed: Oxygen Uptake, Walking Distance, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
6. Where the Evidence Is Thin: Limits, Bias and Internal Inconsistencies
7. What the Findings Could Mean in Cardiac Rehabilitation
8. Key Takeaways
9. Post-Test and Course Evaluation

Quinn Millington, PT, DPT, ECS is the instructor of record: the licensed clinician who reviewed this course and signed off on it. The name and credentials print on the certificate.

Disclosures. This course was developed by The ConEd Solution, which has a financial interest in its sale. No outside funding or sponsorship was received. The instructor of record has no affiliation with the authors of the source publication or their institutions.

This course awards 0.5 contact hours (30 min). How you earn them:

1. Complete the course. Every lesson, in order.
2. Pass the post-test. Score 80% or higher. Retakes are allowed.
3. Complete the evaluation. A short form rating each learning objective and the course.
4. Download your certificate. It is issued on completion and stays available in My Account.

The episode time is its measured length. Reading, post-test and evaluation times are estimates.

This course is designed to satisfy the quality requirements state boards set for continuing education. Requirements vary by state, and confirming that a course fits your renewal is up to you. Each state’s own acceptance statement is in the credit panel on this page.

1. This course is based on a single published systematic review and meta-analysis. Every finding, number and conclusion presented in the course traces to that article.
2. Gao C, Yue Y, Wu D, Zhang J, Zhu S. Effects of high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training on cardiorespiratory and exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2025;20(2):e0314134. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0314134. PMID: 39977401. PMCID: PMC11841918.
3. Scope of this course
4. The course reports what this review found and how certain its authors were. It does not issue exercise prescriptions, and it does not add claims from outside the source article.