Concurrent exercise: Analysis of the acute effect of the performance order on the total energy expenditure

Abstract

The aim of present study was to analyze the effect of aerobic and strength exercises order on the total energy expenditure in an exercise session. Ten male subjects had their VO2 continuously measured during two sessions: Aerobic-resistance (AR) and resistance-aerobic (RA) to estimate caloric expenditure. The aerobic session was a 30-min treadmill run at 90% of anaerobic threshold velocity. The strength exercise session had four exercises, where participants performed three sets of 12 repetitions at 70% of 1RM. Blood lactate concentration (LA) was measured after each strength exercise and at 10, 20 and 30 min during the aerobic exercise. LA during aerobic exercise was higher (p < 0.05) in RA order when compared to AR at 10 (RA = 5.1 ± 1.3 mmol.l-1; AR = 3.2 ± 1.0 mmol.l-1), 20 (RA = 4.2 ± 1.0 mmol.l-1; AR = 3.0 ± 0.9 mmol.l-1) and 30-min (RA = 3.9 ± 1.3 mmol.l-1; AR = 3.4 ± 1.1 mmol.l-1). Total caloric expenditure did not differ between exercise orders (RA = 2793 ± 811 kJ; AR = 2893 ± 903 kJ; p > 0.05), indicating that performance order did not affect energy expenditure.