CONCURRENT TRAINING OR COMBINED TRAINING?

TREINAMENTO CONCORRENTE OU TREINAMENTO COMBINADO?

¿ENTRENAMIENTO CONCURRIDO O ENTRENAMIENTO COMBINADO?

There is a consolidated line of research in the literature on a phenomenon commonly known as Concurrent Training, which investigates the fact that aerobic training performed immediately before or after strength training in the same training session limits muscle strength, power and hypertrophy gains.^1–8 Researchers have studied the load standards (volume, intensity, and frequency of sessions in each sport) that promote concurrence,^2,4,7–10 the mechanisms involved,^10–14 and alternatives to minimize it.^5,15–18

Meanwhile, publications have frequently appeared on a line of research in which aerobic and resistance exercises are combined, not from the perspective of the deleterious effect on muscle hypertrophy and strength performance, but with potential additional health benefits.^19–21 These studies have demonstrated that the combination of the two types of exercise improves cardiovascular parameters in older people,^22,23 neuromuscular parameters in youths²⁴ and older people,²⁵ hormonal parameters in older women,²⁶ and immunological and virological parameters in HIV/AIDS patients,²⁰ while increasing excess post-exercise oxygen consumption time^21,27 and simultaneously improving lipid profile and body composition.²⁸ In all these studies, the combination of the two forms of exercise was just as if not more effective than one of the exercises alone. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine suggests that the combination of aerobic and resistance exercises promotes more benefits than just one of these individually.²⁹

Even within the scope of high performance sport, studies have emerged indicating that the combination of aerobic exercises with muscle strength exercises improve athlete conditioning. The results indicate, for example, that even individuals with a long history of strength training can still improve their lower limb strength with an adequate combination of strength training and aerobic training.³⁰ An improvement in muscle power and strength has also been observed in rowers after 8 weeks of combined strength and aerobic exercises,³¹ while increased performance was found in elite middle-distance runners in terms of running economy and in maximum strength tests.³²

In light of the foregoing, it is our understanding that the term concurrence expresses the opposite of what has been observed in studies in which benefits of engaging in both types of exercise were seen. As the combination is beneficial, we cannot call this phenomenon Concurrence. From this research perspective a combination of and not a concurrence between aerobic and resisted exercises has been investigated.

Therefore, the purpose of this letter is to suggest to the scientific community that the term Concurrence is poorly applied when there are additional health and sports performance benefits, based on the combination of aerobic and resistance exercises in the same physical training session. Thus, we propose that the expression Concurrent Training be replaced by Combined Training in the next studies in which this phenomenon is observed.

REFERENCES

• ¹
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• ²
  Docherty D, Sporer B. A proposed model for examining the interference phenomenon between concurrent aerobic and strength training. Sports Med. 2000;30(6):385-94.
• ³
  Aoki MS, Pontes Jr FL, Navarro F, Uchida MC, Bacurau RFP. Suplementação de carboidrato não reverte o efeito deletério do exercício de endurance sobre o subsequente desempenho de força. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2003;9(5):282-7.
• ⁴
  Terzis G, Spengos K, Methenitis S, Aagaard P, Karandreas N, Bogdanis G. Early phase interference between low-intensity running and power training in moderately trained females. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2016;116(5):1063-73.
• ⁵
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• ⁶
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• ⁸
  Wilson JM, Marin PJ, Rhea MR, Wilson SM, Loenneke JP, Anderson JC. Concurrent training: a meta-analysis examining interference of aerobic and resistance exercises. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(8):2293-307.
• ⁹
  Doma K, Deakin GB. The acute effects intensity and volume of strength training on running performance. Eur J Sport Sci. 2014;14(2):107-15.
• ¹⁰
  Vorup J, Tybirk J, Gunnarsson TP, Ravnholt T, Dalsgaard S, Bangsbo J. Effect of speed endurance and strength training on performance, running economy and muscular adaptations in endurance-trained runners. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2016;116(7):1331-41.
• ¹¹
  Kraemer WJ, Patton JF, Gordon SE, Harman EA, Deschenes MR, Reynolds K, et al. Compatibility of high-intensity strength and endurance training on hormonal and skeletal muscle adaptation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1995;78(3):976-89.
• ¹²
  Cadore EL, Izquierdo M, dos Santos MG, Martins JB, Rodrigues Lhullier FL, Pinto RS, et al. Hormonal responses to concurrent strength and endurance training with different exercise orders. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(12):3281-8.
• ¹³
  Fernandes T, Soci UPR, Alves CR, Carmo EC, Barros JG, Menezes OE. Determinantes moleculares da hipertrofia do músculo esquelético mediados pelo treinamento físico: estudo de vias de sinalização. Rev Mackenzie de Edu Física e Esporte. 2008;7(1):169-88.
• ¹⁴
  Cruz IS, Rosa G, Valle V, de Mello DB, Fortes M, Dantas EHM. Efeitos agudos do treinamento concorrente sobre os níveis séricos de leptina e cortisol em adultos jovens sobrepesados. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2012;18(2) 81-6.
• ¹⁵
  Enright K, Morton J, Iga J, Drust B. Hormonal responses during two different concurrent-training trials in youth elite soccer players: does changing the organization of training impact the hormonal response to concurrent exercise? J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018;58(5):699-706.
• ¹⁶
  Perez-Schindler J, Hamilton DL, Moore DR, Baar K, Philp A. Nutritional strategies to support concurrent training. Eur J Sport Sci. 2015;15(1):41-52.
• ¹⁷
  Ormsbee MJ, Willingham BD, Marchant T, Binkley TL, Specker BL, Vukovich MD4. Protein Supplementation During a 6-Month Concurrent Training Program: Effect on Body Composition and Muscular Strength in Sedentary Individuals. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2018;28(6):619-28.
• ¹⁸
  Rossi FE, Panissa VLG, Monteiro PA, Gerosa-Neto J, Caperuto ÉC, Cholewa JM, et al. Caffeine supplementation affects the immunometabolic response to concurrent training. J Exerc Rehabil. 2017;13(2):179-84.
• ¹⁹
  Eddens L, Browne S, Stevenson EJ, Sanderson B, van Someren K, Howatson G. The efficacy of protein supplementation during recovery from muscle-damaging concurrent exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017;42(7):716-24.
• ²⁰
  Lazzarotto AR, Deres LF, Sprinz E. HIV/AIDS e Treinamento Concorrente: a Revisão Sistemática. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2010;16(2):149-54.
• ²¹
  Lira FS, Oliveira RSF, Julio UF, Franchini E. Consumo de oxigênio pós-exercícios de força e aeróbio: efeito da ordem de execução. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2007;13(6):402-6.
• ²²
  Teixeira L, Ritti-Dias RM, Tinucci T, Mion Júnior D, Forjaz CL. Post-concurrent exercise hemodynamics and cardiac autonomic modulation. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011;111(9):2069-78.
• ²³
  Cordeiro R, Monteiro W, Cunha F, Pescatello LS, Farinatti P. Influence of Acute Concurrent Exercise Performed in Public Fitness Facilities on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Among Older Adults in Rio de Janeiro City. J Strength Cond Res. 2018;32(10):2962-70.
• ²⁴
  Gäbler M, Prieske O, Hortobágyi T, Granacher U. The Effects of Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training on Physical Fitness and Athletic Performance in Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Physiol. 2018;7;9:1057.
• ²⁵
  Libardi CA, Chacon-Mikahil MP, Cavaglieri CR, Tricoli V, Roschel H, Vechin FC, et al. Effect of concurrent training with blood flow restriction in the elderly. Int J Sports Med. 2015;36(5): 395-9.
• ²⁶
  Banitabeli E, Faramarzi M, Bagheri L, Kazemi AR. Comparison of performing 12 weeks’ resistance training before, after and/or in between aerobic exercise on the hormonal status of aged women: a randomized controlled trial. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investg. 2018;35(3).
• ²⁷
  Panissa VLG, Bertuzzi RCM, Lira FS, Júlio UF, Franchini E. Exercício Concorrente: Análise do Efeito Agudo da Ordem de Execução Sobre o Gasto Energético Total. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2009;15(2):127-31.
• ²⁸
  Ghahramanloo E, Midgley AW, Bentley DJ. The effect of concurrent training on blood lipid profile and anthropometrical characteristics of previously untrained men. J Phys Act Health. 2009;6(6):760-6.
• ²⁹
  Garber CE, Blissmer B, Deschenes MR, Franklin BA, Lamonte MJ, Lee IM, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(7):1334-59.
• ³⁰
  Petré H, Löfving P, Psilander N. The Effect of Two Different Concurrent Training Programs on Strength and Power Gains in Highly-Trained Individuals. J Sports Sci Med. 2018;17(2):167-73.
• ³¹
  Izquierdo-Gabarren M, González TER, García-Pallarés J, Sánchez-Medina L, De Villarreal ES, Izquierdo M. Concurrent endurance and strength training not to failure optimizes performance gains. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;42(6): 1191-9.
• ³²
  Sedano S, Marín PJ, Cuadrado G, Redondo JC. Concurrent Training in Elite Male Runners. J Strength Cond Res. 2013;27(9):2433–43.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Mar-Apr 2019

History

• Received
  17 Sept 2013
• Accepted
  26 Jan 2016