Which type of training program involves alternating high-intensity effort with lower-intensity recovery?

The correct choice is interval training, which is characterized by alternating periods of high-intensity effort with lower-intensity recovery phases. This approach allows individuals to engage in intense exercise for a shorter duration followed by a recovery period, making it an effective way to improve both aerobic and anaerobic fitness.

During the high-intensity intervals, participants can push their limits, which typically leads to improved cardiovascular fitness, increased calorie burn, and enhanced performance. The lower-intensity recovery segments provide a necessary rest, allowing the body to partially recover before the next bout of intensity, thus enabling participants to maintain a higher overall workout intensity.

In contrast, circuit training typically involves completing a sequence of exercises that target different muscle groups with minimal rest between them, focusing more on strength endurance rather than the specific alternation of high and low intensity. Steady-state training refers to maintaining a constant intensity level throughout the workout, which does not incorporate the varying intensity characteristic of interval training. Plyometric training involves explosive movements to improve power and strength but does not inherently use the alternating intensity structure found in interval training.