Abstract
Purpose: To examine the potential sex differences in adaptations to combined endurance and strength training in recreationally endurance trained (eumenorrheic) women (n = 9) and men (n = 10).Methods: Isometric (ISOMmax) and dynamic bilateral leg press (1RM), countermovement jump (CMJ), running performance (3,000 m time trial), lean mass and body fat % (LEAN and FAT% determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry) as well as serum testosterone and cortisol (TES and COR, respectively, measured using hormone-specific immunoassay kits) were examined before a control period and pre, mid, and post a supervised 10-week combined high-intensity interval endurance training (4 × 4 min intervals and 3 × 3 × 100 m repeated sprints) and mixed maximal and explosive strength training. No more than 2 weeks separated training and testing for either women or men and all women were tested in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle to minimize the possible influence of menstrual cycle phase on performance measures.Results: Absolute and relative changes in 1RM, CMJ, 3,000 m, LEAN, and FAT% were similar between groups. The only statistically significant differences observed between groups were observed at post and included a larger Δ% increase in ISOMmax force in men and a relatively greater Δ% decrease in serum TES in women.Conclusion: Women and men can achieve similar relative adaptations in dynamic maximal strength and CMJ as well as endurance performance gains and body composition over the same high-intensity 10-week combined program, although relative adaptations in TES may differ.
Highlights
Differences in the anatomy and physiology of women and men result in a performance advantage for men of 8–12%, depending on sport discipline (Sandbakk et al, 2018)
Men generally have greater muscle force production characteristics than women that have partially been attributed to a greater proportional area of type II muscle fibers (Staron et al, 2000), these differences are attenuated when force production characteristics are normalized for lean mass greater sex-differences persist in the upper body in comparison to the lower body (Sandbakk et al, 2018) indicating that sex differences in performance are strongly associated with lean mass
The present high-intensity combined endurance running and maximal and explosive strength training is appropriate for improving 1RM, Countermovement Jump (CMJ), and body composition in a similar manner in women and men with similar training background and aerobic fitness when menstrual cycle phase is taken into consideration for testing
Summary
Differences in the anatomy and physiology of women and men result in a performance advantage for men of 8–12%, depending on sport discipline (Sandbakk et al, 2018). The lower aerobic capacity in women is attributed to a smaller heart and lungs (Molgat-Seon et al, 2018) in addition to lower hemoglobin and oxygen transport capacity (Cureton et al, 1986; Bouwsema et al, 2017). While these anatomical and physiological differences exist between women and men, relative adaptations to strength training interventions in women and men appear to be similar (Knowles et al, 2019; Roberts et al, 2020). Research comparing adaptations to combined endurance and strength training between women and men reveal contradictory results. Bell et al (1997) reported that trained women may be more susceptible to interference than men, while Barnes et al (2013) reported that female runners may benefit from heavy strength training more than men to improve measures of running performance. Taipale et al (2014) reports that over 16 weeks of combined training women made greater improvements in maximal strength but men made more systematic improvements in submaximal running characteristics (Taipale et al, 2014)
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