Response Variability and Detraining Effects of Standardized Exercise Programs

Purpose: To compare inter–individual response variability and detraining effects on markers attributed to aerobic and anaerobic performance after shortterm standardized aerobic, strength and mixed training programs. Methods: Thirty–six male students were randomly assigned to either an aerobic, strength, mixed, or control program (9 per group). They performed two consecutive cycling tests (incremental and plateau) to exhaustion at three points: 1 week before training, after 6 weeks of training, and 3 weeks after the training was finished. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), maximal workload (Wmax), and time to exhaustion performed at Wmax (W × time) were compared between groups by repeated–measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post–hoc tests. The inter–subject response variability within each training group was evaluated by comparison with the 95% confidence interval of the control group. Detraining effects were evaluated using the hysteresis areas, which were compared between each training group and the control group by Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Differences were observed in Wmax for the aerobic (F(2,7)=19.562; p=0.001; n²=0.85) and mixed (F(2,7)=13.447; p=0.004; n²=0.99) programs, and in W × time for the mixed program (F(2,7)=15.432; p= 0.016; n²=0.89). There was high inter–subject response variability for all variables and training programs, except for a homogenous positive response to Wmax in the mixed program (X²=6.27; p=0.04). Detraining effects of Wmax were also better maintained after the mixed program. Conclusion: A mixed program of aerobic and strength training demonstrated higher improvements in the studied markers of performance, with lower interindividual response variability, and longer detraining effects compared with aerobic or strength programs.