Physiological Effects of Concurrent Training in Elderly Men

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of concurrent strength and endurance training on neuromuscular and hormonal parameters in elderly men. 23 healthy men (65±4 years) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: concurrent (CG, n=8), strength (SG, n=8) or endurance group (EG, n=7). The programs consisted, of strength training, endurance training on a cycle ergometer or a combination of both in the same session 3 times per week over a duration of 12 weeks. Subjects were evaluated on parameters related to muscle strength, muscle activation and serum hormones. There were significant increases in lower-body strength in all groups (P<0.05), with higher increases in SG (67%) than CG (41%) and both were higher than EG (25%) (p<0.01). Only SG and CG increased upper-body strength (p<0.01), with no significant difference between the 2 groups. Furthermore, there were significant decreases in free testosterone in EG after training. Significant increases in isometric strength and maximal muscle activation (p<0.05) as well as decreases in the submaximal muscle activation to the same load, were only seen in SG (p<0.05). The present results suggest that the interference effect observed due to concurrent strength and endurance training could be related to impairment of neural adaptations.

Key words

physical training - neural adaptations - serum hormones - strength development

References

• 1 Ahtiainen JP, Pakarinen A, Alen M, Kraemer WJ, Häkkinen K. Muscle hypertrophy, hormonal adaptations and strength development during strength training in strength-trained and untrained men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003;  89 555-563
• 2 ACSM. American College of Sports Medicine .Guidelines for ExerciseTesting and Prescription. (7th Ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2007
• 3 Baar K. Training for endurance and strength: lessons from cell signaling.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;  38 1939-1944
• 4 Bell GJ, Syrotuik D, Martin TP, Burnham R, Quinney HÁ. Effect of concurrent strength and endurance training on skeletal muscle properties and hormone concentrations in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  81 418-427
• 5 Bell GJ, Syrotuik D, Socha T, Maclean I, Quinney HÁ. Effect of strength and endurance training on strength, testosterone, and cortisol.  J Strength Cond Res. 1997;  11 57-64
• 6 Cadore EL, Lhullier FLR, Brentano MA, Silva EM, Ambrosini MB, Spinelli R, Silva RF, Kruel LFM. Hormonal responses to resistance exercise in long-term trained and untrained middle-aged men.  J Strength Cond Res. 2008;  22 1617-1624
• 7 Chtara M, Chaouachi A, Levin GT, Chaouachi M, Chamari K, Amri M, Laursen PB. Effect of concurrent endurance and circuit resistance training sequence on muscular strength and power development.  J Strength Cond Res. 2008;  22 1037-1045
• 8 Davis JW, Wood DT, Andrews RG, Elkind LM, Davis WB. Concurrent training enhances athletes’ strength, muscle endurance, and other measures.  J Strength Cond Res. 2008;  22 1487-1552
• 9 De Souza EO, Tricoli V, Franchini E, Paulo AC, Regazzini M, Ugrinowitsch C. Acute effect of 2 aerobic exercise modes on maximum strength and strength endurance.  J Strength Cond Res. 2007;  21 1286-1290
• 10 Dorrens J, Rennie MJ. Effects of ageing and human whole body and muscle protein turnover.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2003;  13 26-33
• 11 Farina D, Merletti R, Enoka RM. The extraction of neural strategies from the surface EMG.  J Appl Physiol. 2004;  96 1486-1495
• 12 Häkkinen K, Pakarinen A. Muscle strength and serum testosterone, cortisol and SHBG concentrations in middle-aged and elderly men and women.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1993;  148 199-207
• 13 Häkkinen K, Alen M, Kallinen M. Muscle CSA- force production, and activation of leg extensors during isometric and dynamic actions in middle-aged and older people.  JAPA. 1998;  6 232-247
• 14 Häkkinen K, Alen M, Kallinen M, Newton RU, Kraemer WJ. Neuromuscular adaptation during prolonged strength training, detraining and re-strength-training in middle-aged and elderly people.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  83 51-62
• 15 Häkkinen K, Alen M, Kraemer WJ, Gorostiaga E, Izquierdo M, Rusko H, Mikkola J, Häkkinen A, Valkeinen H, Kaarakainen E, Romu S, Erola V, Ahtiainen J, Paavolainen L. Neuromuscular adaptations during concurrent strength and endurance training versus strength training.  J Appl Physiol. 2003;  89 42-52
• 16 Hansen D, Dendale P, Berger J, Meeusen R. Low agreement of ventilatory threshold between training modes in cardiac patients.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007;  101 547-554
• 17 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sports and Exercise Science research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
• 18 Heyward VH, Stolarczyz LM. Avaliação da composição corporal aplicada. São Paulo.  Manole. 2001;  99-105
• 19 Izquierdo M, Häkkinen K, Antón A, Garrues M, Ibañez J, Ruesta M, Gorostiaga EM. Maximal strength and power, endurance performance, and serum hormones in middle-aged and elderly men.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 1577-1587
• 20 Izquierdo M, Ibañez J, Häkkinen K, Kraemer WJ, Larrión JL, Gorostiaga EM. Once weekly combined resistance and cardiovascular training in healthy older men.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;  36 435-443
• 21 Izquierdo M, Häkkinen K, Ibañez J, Kraemer WJ, Gorostiaga EM. Effects of combined resistance and cardiovascular training on strength, power, muscle cross-sectional area, and endurance markers in middle-aged men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2005;  94 70-75
• 22 Jackson AS, Pollock ML. Generalized equations for predicting body density of men.  Br J Nutr. 1978;  40 497-504
• 23 Karavirta L, Tulppo MP, Laaksonen DE, Nyman K, Laukkanen RT, Kinnunen H, Häkkinen A, Häkkinen K. Heart rate dynamics after combined endurance and strength training in older men.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;  41 1436-1443
• 24 Klein CS, Rice CL, Marsh GD. Normalized force production, activation and coactivation in the arm muscles of young and old men.  J Appl Physiol. 2001;  91 1341-1349
• 25 Kraemer WJ, Patton JF, Gordon SE, Harman EA, Deschenes MR, Reynolds K, Newton RU, Tripplet NT, Dziados JE. Compatibility of high-intensity strength and endurance training on hormonal and skeletal muscle adaptations.  J Appl Physiol. 1995;  78 976-989
• 26 Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA. Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training.  Sports Med. 2005;  35 339-361
• 27 Leis AA, Trapani VC. Atlas of Electromyography. Oxford, NY, Oxford University Press; 2000
• 28 Lepers R, Millet GY, Maffiuletti NA. Effect of cycling cadence on contractile and neural properties of knee extensors.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 1882-1888
• 29 Leveritt M, Abernethy PJ. Acute effects of high-intensity endurance exercise on subsequent resistance activity.  J Strength Cond Res. 1999;  13 47-51
• 30 Maïmoun L, Lumbroso S, Manetta J, Paris F, Leroux JL, Sultan C. Testosterone is significantly reduced in endurance athletes without impact on bone mineral density.  Horm Res. 2003;  59 285-292
• 31 McCarthy JP, Pozniak MA, Agre JC. Neuromuscular adaptations to concurrent strength and endurance training.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;  34 511-519
• 32 Millet GP, Jaouen B, Borani F, Candau R. Effect of concurrent endurance and strength training on running economy and VO₂ kinetics.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;  34 1351-1359
• 33 Nader GA. Concurrent strength and endurance training: from molecules to man.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;  38 1965-1970
• 34 Narici MV, Roi GS, Landoni L, Minetti AE, Cerretelli P. Changes in force, cross-sectional area and neural activation during strength training and detraining of the human quadriceps.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1989;  59 310-319
• 35 Putman CT, Xu X, Gillies E, Maclean IM, Bell GJ. Effects of strength, endurance and combined training on myosin heavy chain content and fiber-type distribution in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;  92 376-384
• 36 Sale DG, Jacobs I, Macdougall JD, Garner S. Comparison of 2 regimens of concurrent strength and endurance training.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 348-356
• 37 Sillanpää E, Laaksonen DE, Häkkinen A, Karavirta L, Jensen B, Kraemer WJ, Nyman K, Häkkinen K. Body composition, fitness, and metabolic health during strength and endurance training and their combination in middle-aged and older women.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009;  106 285-296
• 38 Strüder HK, Hollmann W, Platen P, Rost R, Weicker H, Kirchhof, Weber K. Neuroendocrine system and mental function in sedentary and endurance-trained elderly males.  Int J Sports Med. 1999;  20 159-166
• 39 Van Zant RS, Bouillon LE. Strength cycle training: effects on muscular strength and aerobic conditioning.  J Strength Cond Res. 2007;  21 178-182
• 40 Wood RH, Reyes R, Welsch MA, Favarolo-Sabatier J, Sabatier M, Lee CM, Johnson LG, Hooper PF. Concurrent cardiovascular and resistance training in healthy older adults.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 1751-1758

Correspondence