Interference effect of concurrent training on muscle hypertrophy: a systematic review

Abstract

The main goal of this systematic review was to determine whether there is any interference between concurrent aerobic and resistance training in muscle hypertrophy adaptations in active or resistance trained people. A systematic literature search on 6 databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Dialnet, Scielo and Cochrane Library) was conducted in April, 2022 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). After analyzing 362 resultant articles only 5 met the inclusion criteria: a) studies were randomized controlled trials or cohort studies evaluating the effect of concurrent training on muscle mass gains b) studies comparing two groups performed identical resistance training protocols and without the use of external implements (i.e., arterial pressure cuffs); c) interventions lasted at least eight weeks; d) participants were recreationally active people or had previous experience in weight training; e) participants’ age ranged from 18 to 35 years; f) resistance training frequency was at least 3 times/week; g) studies reported direct measurements of muscle thickness, cross-sectional area and/or lean body mass; h) studies were published in peer-review journals. The findings of this review suggest that as long as the training variables are correctly managed there is no interference effect between concurrent aerobic and resistance training in the development of skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Moreover, aerobic training adaptations can be beneficial to the performance of athletes seeking to maximize muscle mass gains.