Physiological adaptations in untrained adolescent athletes participating in concurrent training programs
Date of Award
Spring 4-1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Kinesiology (EdD)
Department
Kinesiology
First Advisor
Joshua Dexheimer
Second Advisor
Brian Serrano
Third Advisor
Michael Thomas
Abstract
The present study experimentally investigated the effect of the order of exercise in concurrent training programs and the role contrasting order plays in the development of physiological adaptations in untrained adolescent athletes. Male and female participants (n = 43) were randomly assigned to two experimental groups to test the hypothesis. We hypothesized that performing resistance training (RT) prior to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) would significantly and simultaneously improve strength and endurance measures versus HIIT before RT in the study's target population. With the exception of deadlift performance in female athletes, the null hypothesis was satisfied for all testing metrics, proving no significant differences between experimental groups. Male athletes demonstrated improvements in all measures of strength and endurance when participating in HIIT before RT. In both sexes, HIIT prior to RT demonstrated a more favorable response for the development of cardiovascular adaptations. Though untrained adolescents were the focus for investigation, this experiment adds to the concurrent training body of literature and reveals insights to potential interference effects (exercise order) and the role gender plays in determining summative strength and endurance measures following training. These findings challenge existing theories in adult populations and warrant further investigation through longer duration experimental trials.