Effect of the Intrasession Exercise Order of Flywheel Resistance and High-Intensity Interval Training on Maximal Strength and Power Performance in Elite Team-Sport Athletes

Abstract

Petré, H, Ovendal, A, Westblad, N, Ten Siethoff, L, Rosdahl, H, and Psilander, N. Effect of the intrasession exercise order of flywheel resistance and high-intensity interval training on maximal strength and power performance in elite team-sport athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2023—This study aimed to investigate the effect of intrasession exercise order of maximal effort flywheel resistance training (RT; 4 × 6 repetitions [rep]) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT, 2–4 × 8 rep of 20 second at 130% of Watt at V̇o 2max [wV̇o 2max]), on the development of maximal strength and power in elite team-sport athletes. A 7-week training intervention involving 2 training sessions per week of either HIIT followed by RT (HIIT + RT, n = 8), RT followed by HIIT (RT + HIIT, n = 8), or RT alone (RT, n = 7) was conducted in 23 elite male bandy players (24.7 ± 4.3 years). Power and work were continuously measured during the flywheel RT. Isometric squat strength (ISq), countermovement jump, squat jump, and V̇o 2max were measured before and after the training period. Power output during training differed between the groups (p = 0.013, = 0.365) with RT producing more power than HIIT + RT (p = 0.005). ISq improved following RT + HIIT (∼80%, d = 2.10, p = 0.001) and following HIIT + RT (∼40%, d = 1.64, p = 0.005), and RT alone (∼70%, d = 1.67, p = 0.004). V̇o 2max increased following RT + HIIT and HIIT + RT (∼10%, d = 1.98, p = 0.001 resp. d = 2.08, p = 0.001). HIIT before RT reduced power output during RT in elite team-sport athletes but did not lead to blunted development of maximal strength or power after a 7-week training period. During longer training periods (>7-weeks), it may be advantageous to schedule RT before HIIT because the negative effect of HIIT + RT on training quality increased during the final weeks of training. In addition, the largest training effect on maximal strength was observed following RT + HIIT.

Effects of Different Recovery Periods Following a Very Intense Interval Training Session on Strength and Explosive Performance in Elite Female Ice Hockey Players

“…High-intensity interval training is commonly used in elite team sports when training to increase V̇ o 2 max because it maximizes training time at a high intensity and is required for trained individuals to further develop aerobic capacity ( 16 ). We have previously demonstrated that very short and intense HIIT (3 set of 8 × 20 seconds of work, ∼8 minutes of total work [TW]) is a highly effective training protocol to increase V̇ o 2 max in elite team sport athletes ( 25 ). The downside with such HIIT is the degree of muscle tension, possibly increasing the level of neuromuscular fatigue.…”