Do the Endurance or the Resistance Exercise Firstly? : —A Meta-analysis on the Sequence Effect of the Intra-session Concurrent Training

Concurrent strength and endurance training have been applied to improve strength and aerobic performance. However, regardless of the training sequence, strength training followed by endurance training (SE) and reverse training sequence (ES) affects training performance remains controversial. In this study, a meta-analysis method was applied to investigate effects of the training sequence (SE and ES) on the performance in terms of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and maximum strength (MS) in various individuals. A total of 453 subjects were analyzed according to participant age and training forms. Results illustrated that the VO2max for adults (age 19–30 years, mean difference (MD)=1.37, 95% confidence intervals (CI)= (0.15, 2.59), p<0.05 taking SE in the form of water-based exercise improved more significantly [MD=2.04, 95%CI =(0.94, 3.14), p<0.05]than the corresponding group taking ES. MS for adults (age 19–30 years, standardized mean difference (SMD)=−0.61, 95%CI=(−1.13, −0.09), p<0.05 taking ES on land was significantly [SMD=−0.73, 95%CI =(−1.18,−0.28), p<0.05] higher than the corresponding group taking SE. The findings indicate that the sequence of concurrent training affects the training performance of VO2max and MS. It is recommended that subjects should take into account of concurrent training sequence, forms and purposes to optimize training performance.