Concurrent Training on the Performance of Team Sports Athletes
Condition: Sports Physical Therapy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study will add to the existing pool of knowledge with more appropriate sample size. The
      main purpose will be to provide coaches with a practical proposal for concurrent training(CT)
      to improve athletes' performance in mixed type sports and team sports. This study, therefore,
      will test the aspects of CT by evaluating and comparing the training adaptations induced by
      three forms of strength training modes in CT. One mode will be of Heavy-Resistance training
      where athlete will perform exercise with 80-90% of their 1RM. Second mode will be of
      Contrast-Strength training that will alternate the use of heavy and light resistance
      exercises and third mode will be Elastic Resistance Training. In the present study, these
      three strength protocols will be balanced for sequence of exercise, volume, duration, and
      other variables, so that the protocols differed only in the intensity of strength training.
      Comparing their training adaptations therefore will enable evaluation of the role of
      different forms of strength training in CT outcomes on performance.
    

Detailed description: 
      Sports performance is influenced by the interaction of several physical variables. For this
      reason, most sports need both strength and endurance capacities to maximize overall
      performance. Therefore, a combination of resistance and aerobic training, usually called
      concurrent training (CT), has been used recently as a way of simultaneously improving
      strength and aerobic performances according to the needs of a specific sport. This
      combination can be challenging and can influence training adaptations, being a problematic
      issue for coaches. Several investigators report that combined or concurrent training (CT), in
      which strength and aerobic endurance training are included in the same training sessions or
      program, interferes with the development of muscle strength or power. Reduction in strength
      adaptations from CT could result from neuromuscular fatigue induced by concurrent aerobic
      endurance exercise, which could limit the maximal muscle force that can be produced during
      resistance training. A converse reduction in aerobic capacity from concurrent training has
      seldom been reported. The reduction in strength adaptations from concurrent strength and
      aerobic endurance training has been termed the interference effect or phenomenon.

      In contrast to interference, several investigators report compatibility of strength and
      endurance training, i.e., no reduction in strength adaptations from concurrent strength and
      aerobic endurance training. In sports applications, concurrent training has been reported to
      increase diverse measures of performance in basketball players, competitive rowers, endurance
      runners, soccer players, professional handball players, and competitive cyclists. These
      findings suggest that in athletes, at least, concurrent strength and aerobic endurance
      training has complimentary or synergic effects, rather than the contradictory or antagonistic
      effects implied by interference.

      Therefore, clarifying the concurrent training effects is necessary and will have implications
      for medicine, science, sports, and recreational exercise. In sports, effects of CT i.e.
      interference or synergy are crucial to exercise physiologists, coaches, trainers, and
      athletes, who invest substantial time and resources to maximize training adaptations and
      competitive efficiency. Confirmation of synergy effect of CT, in contrast, could lead to more
      efficient athletic training protocols.

      Although, some researches have de-emphasized aerobics in resistance training programs, for
      example, bodybuilders have portrayed aerobics as counterproductive to resistance training
      adaptations. On the contrary, however, several United States national certifying, training,
      and medical organizations recommend CT to maximize the benefits of exercise at all levels,
      including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Diabetes Association
      (ADA), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
    

Intervention name(s): Heavy resistance training; Contrast strength training; Elastic resistance training
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Their training program included 4 resistance exercises with heavy weight lifting of the leg muscles. 3 sets of 6-8 repetitions of 80-90 % of maximal load were performed with a barbell squat (range of 0 to 90º knee flexion), lying leg curl, seated calf raises, and leg extension. The rests between the sets and the exercises lasted 5 minutes.; Their resistance training program contained the same exercises as the high resistance training group, but with different intensity. Athlete performed each exercise for the first time with 5-7 reps with 80 % of the 1RM load followed by 15-20 reps with 40 % of the maximal load to complete the 3 sets for each exercise. The rest period between series was 60 seconds and the rest period between exercises was 5 minutes. For example, 5 heavy barbell squats followed immediately by 20 squat with lighter weight to complete 3 sets.; During the intervention, the group conducted a 'elastic resistance training' with the same muscle groups. External resistance was provided by blue thera-band latex-free exercise bands in this training. Each exercise was performed three times for a total of 15-25 repetitions. In between sets, a 5-minute rest period was given and there was a 25-second rest period in between exercise performance. The intensity of each exercise was increased with the black thera band at the midpoint (start of week 7) of the training. The following figure shows the resistance of the blue and black bands to 100 percent elongation. Following figure shows the resistance offered by blue and black band at 100% elongation.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Concurrent training,; High resistance training,; Contrast strength training,; Elastic resistance training,; Physical performance