Performance
A · High confidenceCombining strength and endurance training: do sex and fitness matter
Subject: Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Sex and Training Status
What this means
In men, combining strength and endurance training gave slightly smaller gains in leg strength. In women this difference was not seen. Untrained people improved less in maximal oxygen uptake.
Huiberts RO, Wust RCI, van der Zwaard S · 2024 · Sports Medicine
What does this rating mean?
Multiple consistent meta-analyses or a position stand. Sufficient basis for a fixed choice in the coaching.
Findings
Concurrent training blunted lower-body strength adaptation in males but not females. No sex differences emerged for upper-body strength, power or VO2max. Untrained (but not trained) participants showed lower VO2max gains with concurrent training.
Who this applies to
Healthy adults aged 18 to 50, men and women, both untrained and trained.
Size of the research
59 studies with 1346 participants in total, with training periods of at least 4 weeks.
What to keep in mind
There was too little data on muscle growth to draw conclusions. There were also few studies in women and in highly trained athletes.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Worth watching in male clients combining strength and cardio: lower-body strength gains can lag slightly — the researchers did not see that effect in women.
View method and source
Methodology
Meta-analysis
Population
59 studies, 1346 healthy adults aged 18-50 years
Intervention
Concurrent strength + endurance training (≥4 weeks) vs single-mode training
Outcome measures
Upper- and lower-body strength, power, hypertrophy, VO2max
Limitations
Few female cohorts; insufficient hypertrophy data; heterogeneity in endurance dose and training equating; observed sex difference may partly reflect study-level confounding.
Original source
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01943-9 · PMID: 37847373
View on PubMed →This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.