High-intensity interval running impairs subsequent upper limb strength performance

BACKGROUND: This study compared the effect of treadmill running on subsequent upper limb exercise performance in young men. METHODS: Seventeen young men (24.8±5.2 years) completed a (1) bench press resistance exercise control session; (2) treadmill interval running protocol followed by the bench press session; (3) treadmill continuous running protocol followed by the bench press session. Four sets of the bench press exercise were performed at 80% of 1RM up to volitional failure. In the interval protocol, eight sprints of 40s at 100% of the velocity of maximal oxygen uptake, with 20s of passive interval between them were performed, whereas in the continuous protocol 30-min of treadmill running at 90% of the heart rate corresponding to second ventilatory threshold was performed. The number of maximal repetitions completed in each set and condition was recorded and compared using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: The interval protocol (18.7 ± 4.9 repetitions) resulted in a reduction in the number of bench press repetitions compared to the control protocol (21.4 ± 5.4 repetitions) (p=0.002); whereas continuous running did not affect the bench press performance (20.6 ± 4.4 repetitions). The total number of repetitions reduced from set to set in all protocols (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results evidenced an impairment in the upper limb strength performance after high intensity interval, but not moderate intensity continuous running, which has implication for concurrent training planning and prescription.