Concurrent Method

Different sports require a variety of training aspects to help a player achieve optimal performance. For instance, basketball players may need to be explosive in their jump but also be able to run up and down the court for an extensive amount of time. Coaches want players to be capable of doing both, so concurrent training is their method of choice. “Concurrent training is one method that many coaches employ as it consists of training multiple qualities at equal amounts of focus within the same training phase and often within the same workout.”2 This method allows an athlete to simultaneously train for adaptations associated with resistance and endurance training.

Concurrent training has been said to be ineffective due to the issue of endurance training affecting strength improvements. Recent studies show that athletes are unable to maximize skeletal muscle hypertrophy, strength, and power, while engaging in an aggressive endurance training program. Research shows aerobic exercise kills an athlete’s ability to produce power and strength. Most coaches and trainers understand that training type I muscle fibers (slow twitch) will increase muscular endurance, but hinder speed and explosion of the type II muscle fibers (fast twitch). Train fast to be fast, right? Absolutely, but in sports that require both anaerobic and aerobic training, some type of endurance exercise needs to be involved for the athlete to efficiently compete.

The beauty of the concurrent method is it can used for training of almost any sport because most of them require both endurance and explosive movements. Depending on the sport, endurance training could be minimally used. To maximize concurrent training, recommendations include using endurance training wisely, and strategically programming it into your resistance training blocks. Intersperse high intensity interval training and low-to-moderate intensity endurance training to keep endurance training volume at a minimum, while reaping the benefits of endurance training.1 Endurance training can be easily overtrained, so careful implementation is required to make sure resistance training is not delayed.

In conclusion, “there is no literature indicating that concurrent training is detrimental to any performance outcome associated with endurance training. In contrast, the literature indicates that there is a sharp dose-response relationship with endurance training frequency and duration (i.e. volume) on resistance training associated outcomes such as muscular strength, power, and hypertrophy.”1 By strategically implementing endurance training, an athlete can maximize benefits associated with both resistance and endurance training. This method is best suited for sports that require both aerobic and anaerobic exercise.

1Lewis, M. (n.d.). How to Maximize Concurrent Training. Retrieved October 06, 2016, from https://bretcontreras.com/how-to-maximize-concurrent-training

2Ward, P. (n.d.). Concurrent Training: Strength and Aerobic Training at the Same Time? Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://optimumsportsperformance.com/blog/concurrent-training-strength-and-aerobic-training-at-the-same-time/