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Effects of combined endurance and strength training on muscle strength, power and hypertrophy in 40–67‐year‐old men
Author(s) -
Karavirta L.,
Häkkinen A.,
Sillanpää E.,
GarcíaLópez D.,
Kauhanen A.,
Haapasaari A.,
Alen M.,
Pakarinen A.,
Kraemer W. J.,
Izquierdo M.,
Gorostiaga E.,
Häkkinen K.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01059.x
Subject(s) - muscle hypertrophy , medicine , strength training , endurance training , muscle strength , concentric , sarcopenia , skeletal muscle , physical therapy , one repetition maximum , muscle power , cardiology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , mathematics , geometry
Both strength and endurance training have several positive effects on aging muscle and physical performance of middle‐aged and older adults, but their combination may compromise optimal adaptation. This study examined the possible interference of combined strength and endurance training on neuromuscular performance and skeletal muscle hypertrophy in previously untrained 40–67‐year‐old men. Maximal strength and muscle activation in the upper and lower extremities, maximal concentric power, aerobic capacity and muscle fiber size and distribution in the vastus lateralis muscle were measured before and after a 21‐week training period. Ninety‐six men [mean age 56 (SD 7) years] completed high‐intensity strength training (S) twice a week, endurance training (E) twice a week, combined training (SE) four times per week or served as controls (C). SE and S led to similar gains in one repetition maximum strength of the lower extremities [22 (9)% and 21 (8)%, P <0.001], whereas E and C showed minor changes. Cross‐sectional area of type II muscle fibers only increased in S [26 (22)%, P =0.002], while SE showed an inconsistent, non‐significant change [8 (35)%, P =0.73]. Combined training may interfere with muscle hypertrophy in aging men, despite similar gains in maximal strength between the strength and the combined training groups.