Cardiorespiratory Adaptations in Elderly Men Following Different Concurrent Training Regimes

E.L. Cadore, R.S. Pinto, J.L. Teodoro, L.X.N. da Silva, E. Menger, C.L. Alberton, G. Cunha, M. Schumann, M. Bottaro, F. Zambom-Ferraresi, Mikel Izquierdo

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different intra-session exercise orders during concurrent training (CT) on endurance performance in elderly men, as well as to verify its influence on individual responses in endurance performance. Twenty-five healthy elderly men (64.7 ± 4.1 years) were placed into two groups: strength training prior to endurance training (SE, n=13), and one in the reverse order (ES, n=12). CT was performed three times a week during 12 weeks. Before and after training, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), maximal workload (Wmax), absolute and relative cycling economy at 25, 50, 75 and 100 W (i.e., average VO2 at different stages) were assessed. Similar increases in VO2peak were observed in the SE and ES groups (SE: 8.1 ± 9.9%; ES: 9.3 ± 9.8%; P<0.001), as well as in Wmax (SE: 19.9 ± 19.3%; ES: 24.1 ± 24.0%; P<0.001). Moreover, significant reductions were observed in the absolute VO2 at 100 W (P<0.05) in the SE and ES groups. No difference between groups was observed. In the ES group, one subject did not respond positively in terms of both VO2max and Wmax, whereas 4 subjects did not respond positively in terms of both VO2max and Wmax in SE group. CT improved maximal and submaximal endurance performance in elderly men, independent of intra-session exercise order. However, it seems that the ES order elicited more individual responsiveness in terms of maximal endurance performance than SE order.