Sequencing Effects of Concurrent Resistance and Short Sprint Interval Training on Physical Fitness, and Aerobic and Anaerobic Performance of Karate Athletes.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week concurrent training (CT) program that combined short sprint interval training (sSIT) and resistance training (RT) in alternating sequences (i.e., sSIT + RT or RT + sSIT) on the physical fitness, aerobic capacity, and anaerobic performance of male karate athletes, in comparison to each training intervention conducted independently. Forty national-level young male athletes volunteered to participate in this study and were divided into sSIT, RT, sSIT + RT, RT + sSIT, and active control (CG) groups, each group consisted of eight athletes and performed 3 days of weekly training intervention including 4 sets of 5 repetitions of 5 seconds of all-out running for sSIT program and also back squats, leg presses, seated knee flexions, and calf raises for 3 sets of 6-12 repetition maximum for the RT intervention. After the intervention, the sSIT, RT, sSIT + RT and RT + sSIT groups demonstrated improvements in the countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) (effect size [ES] = 0.64, 0.88, 1.58, 1.55), 20-m sprint (ES = -0.82, -0.62, -1.10, -1.16), 4 × 9-m shuttle run (ES = -0.62, -0.35, -1.15, -0.89), strength (ES = 0.19, 0.44, 0.34, 0.43), peak (ES = 1.27, 0.73, 1.80, 1.53), and mean power output (ES = 0.87, 0.54, 1.37, 1.11), as well as in comparison to the CG (p < 0.05), respectively. Additionally, improvements in aerobic performance were observed in the sSIT, sSIT + RT, and RT + sSIT groups (ES = 0.75, 0.92, 0.62) after the training intervention, and in comparison to CG (p < 0.05), while the RT group did not show significant changes post-training. By comparing the CT groups, no sequencing effects were observed in the adaptations of variables between the sSIT + RT vs. RT + sSIT groups. In conclusion, this study's findings demonstrate that sSIT, RT, and CT with different orders have a positive impact on inducing adaptations in physical fitness, aerobic and anaerobic performance. Additionally, combining sSIT and RT resulted in further adaptations in karate athletes without any differences between CT groups.