Effects of Concurrent Training on Explosive Strength and VO2max in Prepubescent Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an 8-weeks training period of resistance training alone (GR), combined resistance and endurance training (GCON) and a control group (GC) on explosive strength and V(O2max) in a large sample of prepubescent boys and girls. 125 healthy children (58 boys, 67 girls), aged 10-11 years old (10.8±0.4 years) were assigned into 2 training groups to train twice a week for 8 weeks: GR (19 boys, 22 girls), GCON (21 boys, 24 girls) and a control group (GC: 18 boys, 21 girls; no training program). A significant but medium-sized increase from pre- to the post-training in the vertical jump (Effect size=0.22, F=34.44, p<0.01) and V(O2max) (Effect size=0.19, F=32.89, p<0.01) was observed. A significant large increase in the 1 kg (Effect size=0.53, F=202.17, p<0.01) and 3 kg (Effect size=0.48, F=132.1, p<0.01) ball throwing, standing long jump (Effect size=0.53, F=72.93, p<0.01) and running speed (Effect size=0.45, F=122.21, p<0.01) was also observed. The training group (GR and GCON) and sex factors did not significantly influence the evolution of strength variables from pre- to the post-training. The V(O2max) increased significantly only in GCON. Concurrent training is equally effective on training-induced explosive strength, and more efficient than resistance training only for V(O2max), in prepubescent boys and girls. This should be taken into consideration in order to optimize strength training school-based programs.

Effects of plyometric training on maximal-intensity exercise and endurance in male and female soccer players

“…Although studies have shown a meaningful effect of plyometric training on endurance performance (Barnes & Kilding, 2015), a relatively novel finding to this study is the improvement of endurance performance in a test with repeated changes of direction such as the 20 m shuttle run endurance test, which might be more specific for soccer players . This improvement might be related with a better running economy (Marta, Marinho, Barbosa, Izquierdo, & Marques, 2013), which in turn might be explained by decreased ground contact times, increased musculotendinous stiffness, elastic energy return (Barnes & Kilding, 2015;Spurrs, Murphy, & Watsford, 2003), neuromuscular activity or enhanced running mechanics (Barnes & Kilding, 2015). However, direct assessment of potential mechanisms that could improve endurance performance after plyometric training deserves further consideration.…”

For Polanyian Economic Geographies

“…In young soccer players, PT may not induce a significant increase in V _ O 2 max (31) or lactate threshold (11) but may increase the performance during an intermittent test that implicates repeated and sudden changes of direction (46), increase that may be related to improved neuromuscular and anaerobic characteristics. Also, an increased neuromuscular ability (i.e., RSI) may be transferred into improved running economy (26) that, independent of V _ O 2 max, lactate threshold, among others "aerobic" indicators, may affect endurance (35).…”

Strength and Conditioning for Adolescent Endurance Runners

“…The authors speculated that excessive fatigue resulting from the concurrent training regimen may have compromised both strength and endurance adaptations (18). Interestingly, the blunting of strength adaptation which is often observed in adult performers when both strength-and endurance-training are included in the same training session (90) appears not to occur in children (53) and adolescents (75,76). As the interference phenomeon is mediated by training volume and recovery from sessions (5), it seems likely that the volumes of each training modality included in the aforementioned studies were insufficient to negatively impact upon strength-related adaptation.…”