Acute effects of concurrent training with rowing ergometer on physiological and performance variables

Abstract

Objective: to compare physiological responses and performance in concurrent training considering different execution orders.

Method: 13 women were involved (20 to 40 years) in two types of stimuli: strength, composed by back squat, dead lift and bent-over row (three sets of 10 repetitions) and aerobic in rowing ergometer (two sets of 10 min at 85% heart rate reserve - 5 min recovery). The efforts were performed in two orders: strength + aerobic or aerobic + strength, with 10 min intervals in between. Rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, blood lactate threshold and power were measured.

Results: for rating of perceived exertion and heart rate no differences were pointed between trainings orders. No differences were found between workouts for power output in strength exercises. The power output analysis in aerobic stimulus showed differences between workouts (Strength (1.12) = 4.1; p = 0.03) and between sets (Strength (1.12) = 4.1; p = 0.03), with significant interactions (Strength (1.12) = 2.81; p = 0.04), post-hoc analysis identified lower power output in aerobic stimulus when performed after strength stimulus. Differences were found between moments and groups in blood lactate concentration, with higher value in strength stimulus when compared to aerobic (6.19 ± 0.1 mmol/l versus 4.34 ± 0.2 mmol/l, respectively).

Conclusions: the concurrent training with rowing ergometer affected performance in aerobic effort when it was performed after strength stimulus. For strength training, it seems to have no differences in the execution order.