ABSTRACT
Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the acute effect of a treadmill high-intensity interval protocol on subsequent upper body and lower body strength exercise performance. Method: Sixteen young men had their maximal aerobic capacity and one-repetition maximum (1RM) determined and underwent four randomized conditions: a half-squat control session; a bench press control session; a treadmill interval protocol followed by a half-squat experimental session; and a treadmill interval protocol followed by a bench press experimental session. During the control sessions, four sets to failure for each exercise were performed at 80% of 1RM. In the experimental sessions, participants performed eight sprints of 40 s at 100% velocity of maximal oxygen uptake with 20 s of passive interval between them, followed by the same strength exercise protocol of the control sessions. The number of repetitions during each protocol and participants’ heart rate (HR),and blood lactate concentration ([lac]) were compared pre and post protocols and exercises. Results: Fewer repetitions were completed in the experimental session compared to the control sessions (p < .001). Moreover, the reduction in number of repetitions performed was more evident in half-squat compared to bench press (p = .018). HR was higher at the end of sessions with the interval protocol for both exercises (p < .001). The [lac] was higher at the end of session with the interval protocol for half-squat (p = .003). Conclusions: These findings suggest that previous high-intensity interval running may impair subsequent strength exercise performance, but the magnitude of the negative effect is greater in the lower limbs.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the participants for their contribution to this study. The authors also thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) for the financial support (Finance Code 001).