The Impact of Concurrent Training on Young, Recreationally Active Men
Vol.19,No.2(2025)
The modern athlete must develop strength and endurance to reach the maximum performance potential. The training incorporating both modalities (strength and endurance) is called concurrent training. It is often accompanied by an interference effect, meaning that endurance training negatively impacts strength-related outcomes (power, strength, hypertrophy). We examined whether concurrent training impedes strength training adaptation compared to strength training alone. We conducted a randomised parallel-group study with repeated measurements. Twenty young, recreationally active men were included in the study and randomised to concurrent or strength training groups; fifteen participants completed the 11-week study protocol (including pre-test, training intervention, mid-test, and post-test). Both groups improved maximal strength pre-to-post (1 RM bench press and squat), both p < 0.001, with no statistical difference between groups (p = 0.362 for squat and p = 0.892 for bench press). Maximum anaerobic power (Wingate test (peak power, W)) also increased pre to post in both groups (both p < 0.05) with no differences between groups (p = 0.892). Both groups experienced an increase in lean body mass measured by DXA scan (both p < 0.05) with no between-groups differences (p = 0.999). Thus, the results indicate the potential for concurrent training to yield similar improvements in strength-related outcomes as strength training in recreationally active young men.
hypertrophy; endurance; skeletal muscle; strength; power
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