Effects of interval time between intermittent aerobic and endurance strength exercises on strength performance: analysis in subjects with different training background

Author(s)

Valéria Leme Gonçalves Panissa

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Educação Física e Esportes (EEFE/BT)
• Defense date: 2012-02-16

Examining board members

Emerson Franchini; Camila Coelho Greco; Valmor Alberto Augusto Tricoli

• Advisor: Emerson Franchini

Abstract

Many sports require the inclusion of both aerobic and strength exercises in the same training session during certain phases of the training periodization, and the combined use of these two types of exercises has been defined as concurrent training (CT). Although the use of CT is important for athletes of various sports, there are indications that this type of training could decrease strength gains. The acute hypothesis attempts to explain this phenomenon by attributing impairments in strength gains to a drop in performance during acute sessions when the aerobic activity is performed before the strength activity; however, participants with different training backgrounds have experienced different results. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effect of the time interval between high-intensity aerobic activities on strength performance in individuals with different training backgrounds. Participants (n = 27) were divided into three groups according to their training backgrounds (aerobic, strength or concurrent) and were then submitted to the following eight performance sessions: (1) determination of the peak velocity (Vpeak) during the progressive test to exhaustion; (2) evaluation of the one-repetition maximum (1RM) for the half-squat; and (3-8) randomly assigned experimental sessions consisting of either a strength exercise (SE) at 80% of the 1RM, in which the maximum number of repetitions performed (MNR) and the absolute total volume relative to body weight were computed, or five sessions consisting of intermittent aerobic exercise (100% of Vpeak - 1 min:1 min) totaling 5 km, followed by a SE with varying time intervals between activities (30 or 60 minutes or 4, 8, or 24 hours). Comparisons between the MNR and the absolute or relative total volume were made using an ANOVA method for two factors (group and time) with repeated measures in the second factor. When significant differences were detected (p < 0.05), a post-hoc Bonferroni test was used. There were no interaction effects between the group and interval recovery factors for any of the variables analyzed. However, there was an effect of the group factor, as the aerobic group demonstrated a superior MNR capability compared to the strength group (p = 0.002), although there was no effect related to group factors for the total absolute or relative volume measurements. There was an effect of the interval recovery for all of the variables, as there was a decrease in the MNR and the relative volume after 30 min intervals (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively), and there was a decrease for the total absolute volume after 30 (p < 0.001) and 60 minute intervals (p = 0.026). Thus, it was concluded that the drop in performance related to the SE activity occurred with the same magnitude and duration for each of the analyzed groups (aerobic, strength and concurrent). Moreover, this effect on performance lasted for up to 60 minutes between activities, whereas this effect was not observed after intervals of 4, 8 or 24 hours (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/03391-5 - Effects of interval time between intermittent aerobic and endurance strength exercises on strength performance: analysis in subjects with different training status
• Grantee: Valéria Leme Gonçalves Panissa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master