Does Sprint Interval Training Cause Interference in Concurrent Training? A Meta-Analysis Study

Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2820-4527

Authors Author Affiliations

Diego Ferraro-Farro

1   Department of Physical Education and Health, University of the Republic Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay (Ringgold ID: RIN56724)

2   PEDEClBA, Program for the Development of Basic Sciences, Montevideo, Uruguay

Marcelo Bandeira-Guimarães

3   School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN28124)

Eduarda Blanco-Rambo

3   School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN28124)

Alexandra Ferreira Vieira

4   Faculdade Sogipa, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Eduardo Lusa Cadore

3   School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN28124)

Stefano Benítez-Flores

1   Department of Physical Education and Health, University of the Republic Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay (Ringgold ID: RIN56724)

2   PEDEClBA, Program for the Development of Basic Sciences, Montevideo, Uruguay


Supported by: Eduarda Blanco-Rambo e Marcelo Bandeira-Guimaraes are supported by Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil)
Supported by: Eduardo Lusa Cadore is supported by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ, Brazil)
Supported by: Diego Ferraro-Farro and Stefano Benítez-Flores are supported by Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII) and Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas (PEDEClBA) Further Information(opens Publication History section)Also available at  SFX Search Buy Article(opens in new window) Permissions and Reprints(opens in new window) Article preview thumbnail Abstract

The interference effect associated with concurrent training has been widely debated. A recent model suggests that including sprint interval training as the endurance component may attenuate this effect. However, studies examining the impact of sprint interval training-based concurrent training on neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory adaptations are limited. This systematic review with meta-analysis evaluated the effects of concurrent training programs including sprint interval training on strength, hypertrophy, maximum oxygen consumption, and sprint performance. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and SPORTDiscus, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Randomized controlled trials in healthy adults (≥18 y) comparing sprint interval training-based concurrent training with resistance training alone, including at least six supervised sessions over 2 weeks, were eligible. Nine studies (177 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analyses showed no significant differences between sprint interval training combined with resistance training and resistance training alone for lower-body strength (standardized mean difference=0.01; p = 0.94), upper-body strength (standardized mean difference=− 0.06; p = 0.83), jump performance (standardized mean difference=0.11; p = 0.11), or sprint performance (standardized mean difference=− 0.01; p = 0.95). However, sprint interval training combined with resistance training significantly improved maximum oxygen consumption compared with resistance training alone (standardized mean difference=0.78; p = 0.001). Sensitivity analysis revealed greater jump gains with short sprint protocols (≤10 s; standardized mean difference=0.41; p = 0.025). These findings indicate that introducing sprint interval training into concurrent training enhances cardiorespiratory fitness without compromising strength or power and may potentiate jump performance when short sprints are used.

Keywords strength training - resistance training - high-intensity interval training - repeated sprint training - power development - sprint performance Publication History

Received: 17 May 2025

Accepted after revision: 23 February 2026

Accepted Manuscript online:
24 February 2026

Article published online:
17 March 2026

© 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
References 1 Fyfe JJ, Bishop DJ, Stepto NK. Interference between concurrent resistance and endurance exercise: Molecular bases and the role of individual training variables. Sports Med 2014; 44: 743-762 2 Coffey VG, Hawley JA. Concurrent exercise training: Do opposites distract?. J Physiol 2017; 595: 2883-2896 3 Cadore E. Strength and endurance training prescription in healthy and frail elderly. Aging Dis 2014; 4 Kodama S. Cardiorespiratory fitness as a quantitative predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in healthy men and women. JAMA 2009; 301: 2024 5 García-Hermoso A, Cavero-Redondo I, Ramírez-Vélez R. et al. Muscular strength as a predictor of all-cause mortality in an apparently healthy population: A systematic review and meta-analysis of data from approximately 2 million men and women. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2018; 99: 2100-2113 .e5 6 Folland JP, Williams AG. The adaptations to strength training. Sports Med 2007; 37: 145-168 7 Schumann M, Rønnestad B. Concurrent aerobic and strength training. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2019 8 Coffey VG, Hawley JA. The molecular bases of training adaptation. Sports Med 2007; 37: 737-763 9 Astorino TA, Causer E, Hazell TJ. et al. Change in central cardiovascular function in response to intense interval training: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2022; 1991-2004 10 Boullosa D, Dragutinovic B, Feuerbacher JF. et al. Effects of short sprint interval training on aerobic and anaerobic indices: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2022; 32: 810-820 11 Hickson RC. Interference of strength development by simultaneously training for strength and endurance. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1980; 45: 255-263 12 Wilson JM, Marin PJ, Rhea MR. et al. Concurrent training. J Strength Cond Res 2012; 26: 2293-2307 13 Schumann M, Feuerbacher JF, Sünkeler M. et al. Compatibility of concurrent aerobic and strength training for skeletal muscle size and function: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med 2022; 52: 601-612 14 Huiberts RO, Wüst RCI, van der Zwaard S. Concurrent strength and endurance training: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the impact of sex and training status. Sports Med 2024; 54: 485-503 15 Theofilidis G, Bogdanis G, Koutedakis Y. et al. Monitoring exercise-induced muscle fatigue and adaptations: Making sense of popular or emerging indices and biomarkers. Sports 2018; 6: 153 16 Baar K. Using molecular biology to maximize concurrent training. Sports Med 2014; 44: 117-125 17 Docherty D, Sporer B. A proposed model for examining the interference phenomenon between concurrent aerobic and strength training. Sports Med 2000; 30: 385-394 18 Vechin FC, Conceição MS, Telles GD. et al. Interference phenomenon with concurrent strength and high-intensity interval training-based aerobic training: An updated model. Sports Med 2021; 51: 599-605 19 Sabag A, Najafi A, Michael S. et al. The compatibility of concurrent high intensity interval training and resistance training for muscular strength and hypertrophy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci 2018; 36: 2472-2483 20 Laursen P, Buchheit M. Science and application of high-intensity interval training. Roger W. Earle 2019 21 Benítez-Flores S, de Sousa AFM, da Cunha Totó EC. et al. Shorter sprints elicit greater cardiorespiratory and mechanical responses with less fatigue during time-matched sprint interval training (SIT) sessions. Kinesiology 2018; 50: 137-148 22 Benítez-Flores S, Magallanes CA, Alberton CL. et al. Physiological and psychological responses to three distinct exercise training regimens performed in an outdoor setting: Acute and delayed response. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2021; 6: 44 23 Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM. et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021; n71 24 Shamseer L, Moher D, Clarke M. et al. Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: Elaboration and explanation. BMJ 2015; 349: g7647-g7647 25 Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J. et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: Explanation and elaboration. PLoS Med 2009; 6: e1000100 26 Buchheit M, Laursen PB. High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle. Sports Med 2013; 43: 313-338 27 Cohen J. A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educ Psychol Meas 1960; 20: 37-46 28 Higgins J, Green S. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration; 2011 29 Verhagen AP, de Vet HCW, de Bie RA. et al. The delphi list. J Clin Epidemiol 1998; 51: 1235-1241 30 Higgins J, Thompson SG, Deeks JJ. et al. Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. BMJ 2003; 327: 557-560 31 StataCorp. Stata Statistical Software: Release 17. 2021. 32 Petré H, Hemmingsson E, Rosdahl H. et al. Development of maximal dynamic strength during concurrent resistance and endurance training in untrained, moderately trained, and trained individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med 2021; 51: 991-1010 33 McKay AKA, Stellingwerff T, Smith ES. et al. Defining training and performance caliber: A participant classification framework. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2022; 17: 317-331 34 Kikuchi N, Yoshida S, Okuyama M. et al. The effect of high-intensity interval cycling sprints subsequent to arm-curl exercise on Upper-body muscle strength and hypertrophy. J Strength Cond Res 2016; 30: 2318-2323 35 Benítez-Flores S, Medeiros AR, Voltarelli FA. et al. Combined effects of very short “all out” efforts during sprint and resistance training on physical and physiological adaptations after 2 weeks of training. Eur J Appl Physiol 2019; 119: 1337-1351 36 Pareja-Blanco F, Asián-Clemente JA, Sáez de Villarreal E. Combined squat and light-load resisted sprint training for improving athletic performance. J Strength Cond Res 2019; 35: 2457-2463 37 Ross RE, Ratamess NA, Hoffman JR. et al. The effects of treadmill sprint training and resistance training on maximal running velocity and power. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 385-394 38 Robineau J, Lacome M, Piscione J. et al. Concurrent training in rugby sevens: Effects of high-intensity interval exercises. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2017; 12: 336-344 39 Cantrell GS, Schilling BK, Paquette MR. et al. Maximal strength, power, and aerobic endurance adaptations to concurrent strength and sprint interval training. Eur J Appl Physiol 2014; 114: 763-771 40 Ripley NJ, Cuthbert M, Comfort P. et al. Effect of additional nordic hamstring exercise or sprint training on the modifiable risk factors of hamstring strain injuries and performance. PLoS One 2023; 18: e0281966 41 Kotzamanidis C, Chatzopoulos D, Michailidis C. et al. The effect of a combined high-intensity strength and speed training program on the running and jumping ability of soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2005; 19: 369 42 Xu Y, Wang S. Sequencing effects of concurrent resistance and short sprint interval training on physical fitness, and aerobic and anaerobic performance of karate athletes. J Sports Sci Med 2025; 205-216 43 Suchomel TJ, Nimphius S, Bellon CR. et al. The importance of muscular strength: Training considerations. Sports Med 2018; 48: 765-785 44 Ross A, Leveritt M, Riek S. Neural influences on sprint running. Sports Med 2001; 31: 409-425 45 Pugh JK, Faulkner SH, Jackson AP. et al. Acute molecular responses to concurrent resistance and high-intensity interval exercise in untrained skeletal muscle. Physiol Rep 2015; 3: e12364 46 Sleivert GG, Backus RD, Wenger HA. The influence of a strength-sprint training sequence on multi-joint power output. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1995; 27: 1655-1665 47 Häkkinen K, Alen M, Kraemer WJ. et al. Neuromuscular adaptations during concurrent strength and endurance training versus strength training. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 42-52 48 Eddens L, van Someren K, Howatson G. The role of intra-session exercise sequence in the interference Effect: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Sports Med 2018; 48: 177-188 49 Murlasits Z, Kneffel Z, Thalib L. The physiological effects of concurrent strength and endurance training sequence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci 2018; 36: 1212-1219 50 Cormie P, McGuigan MR, Newton RU. Developing maximal neuromuscular power. Sports Med 2011; 41: 17-38 51 Balsom PD, Seger JY, Sjödin B. et al. Physiological responses to maximal intensity intermittent exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1992; 65: 144-149 52 Gaitanos GC, Williams C, Boobis LH. et al. Human muscle metabolism during intermittent maximal exercise. J Appl Physiol 1993; 75: 712-719 53 Haugen T, Seiler S, Sandbakk Ø. et al. The training and development of elite sprint performance: An integration of scientific and best practice literature. Sports Med Open 2019; 5: 44 54 Thurlow F, Huynh M, Townshend A. et al. The effects of repeated-sprint training on physical fitness and physiological adaptation in athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med 2024; 54: 953-974 55 Taylor JB, Wright AA, Dischiavi SL. et al. Activity demands during multi-directional team sports: A systematic review. Sports Med 2017; 47: 2533-2551 56 Harper DJ, Carling C, Kiely J. High-intensity acceleration and deceleration demands in elite team sports competitive match play: A Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Sports Med 2019; 49: 1923-1947 57 Murphy A, Burgess K, Hall AJ. et al. The effects of strength and conditioning interventions on sprinting performance in team sport athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 2023; 37: 1692-1702 58 Seitz LB, Reyes A, Tran TT. et al. Increases in lower-body strength transfer positively to sprint performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Sports Med 2014; 44: 1693-1702 59 Gibala MJ, Little JP, MacDonald MJ. et al. Physiological adaptations to low-volume, high-intensity interval training in health and disease. J Physiol 2012; 590: 1077-1084 60 Pito PG, Cardoso JR, Tufano J. et al. Effects of concurrent training on 1RM and VO2 in adults: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Int J Sports Med 2022; 43: 297-304
 

Comments (0)

No login
gif