Acute Physiological Responses to High-Intensity Resistance Circuit Training vs. Traditional Strength Training in Soccer Players

• Published in: Biology (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2020-11, Vol.9 (11), p.383
• Main Authors: Marin-Pagan, Cristian, Blazevich, Anthony J, Chung, Linda H, Romero-Arenas, Salvador, Freitas, Tomas T, Alcaraz, Pedro E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aerobic fitness; football; Heart beat; heart rate; Muscle strength; oxygen uptake; Physical fitness; Physiological research; Soccer players
• ISSN: 2079-7737; 2079-7737
• DOI: 10.3390/biology9110383

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses induced by high-intensity resistance circuit-based (HRC) and traditional strength (TS) training protocols. Ten amateur soccer players reported to the laboratory on four occasions: (1) protocol familiarization and load determination; (2) maximal oxygen consumption test; (3) and (4) resistance training protocols (HRC and TS), completed in a cross-over randomized order. In both protocols, the same structure was used (two blocks of 3 sets × 3 exercises, separated by a 5-min rest), with only the time between consecutive exercises differing: TS (3 min) and HRC (~35 s, allowing 3 min of local recovery). To test for between-protocol differences, paired t-tests were applied. Results showed that oxygen consumption and heart rate during HRC were 75% and 39% higher than TS, respectively (p < 0.001). After the training sessions, blood lactate concentration at 1.5, 5 and 7 min and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption were higher in HRC. The respiratory exchange ratio was 6.7% greater during HRC, with no between-group differences found post-exercise. The energy cost of HRC was ~66% higher than TS. In conclusion, HRC training induces greater cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses in soccer players and thus may be a time-effective training strategy.