Effect of the Intrasession Exercise Order of Flywheel Resistance and High-Intensity Interval Training on Maximal Strength and Power Performance in Elite Team-Sport Athletes
Question
Does doing HIIT before or after flywheel resistance training change resistance-session quality and strength, power, and VO2max adaptations in elite team-sport athletes?
Summary
Twenty-three elite male bandy players trained twice weekly for 7 weeks with flywheel squats alone, resistance training before HIIT, or HIIT before resistance training. HIIT before resistance training reduced flywheel peak power during sessions, but all groups improved isometric squat strength; only the groups that included HIIT increased VO2max.
Methodology
- 23 elite male Swedish bandy players.
- 23 participants.
- Flywheel squat plus cycling HIIT.
- Work intervals: 20 s.
- Recovery: 10 s between intervals; 4 min between sets.
- Intensity: Cycling at 130% wVO2max; flywheel squats maximal concentric intent.
- 2 sessions/week.
- 7 weeks.
- Randomized controlled three-group training intervention
- Training quality, Strength, and VO2max were tracked.
Outcomes
Flywheel power
HIIT before RT reduced peak power during flywheel RT versus RT alone.
Group interaction p=0.013; RT > HIIT+RT p=0.005.
Strength
Isometric squat strength increased in all groups.
RT+HIIT +78.58% p=0.001; HIIT+RT +41.41% p=0.005; RT +69.87% p=0.004.
VO2max
VO2max increased only in groups that performed HIIT.
RT+HIIT +10.13% p=0.001; HIIT+RT +10.15% p=0.001; RT +3.14% p=0.273.
Insights
- For advanced athletes, resistance training before HIIT may preserve resistance-session power quality.
- A 20 s on / 10 s off HIIT structure can improve VO2max even in elite athletes when volume progresses.
Limitations
- Small group sizes
- Elite men only
- Short intervention
- Specialized equipment
- No jump-specific training
Safety
- No adverse events or injuries were reported.