Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41762427›Full record

SynthesisSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2026

Maximizing Adaptations in Concurrent Training: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses.

Steffen Held, Lena Wolf, Ludwig Rappelt, Wilhem Bloch, Lars Donath, Florian Micke, Stephan Geisler, Eduard Isenmann

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Steffen Held *Department of Management & Sport, IST-University of Applied Sciences, Dusseldorf, NRW, Germany. sheld@ist-hochschule.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1004-101X
Lena Wolf *Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, NRW, Germany.
Ludwig RappeltDepartment of Intervention Research in Exercise Training, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Wilhem BlochDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, NRW, Germany.
Lars DonathDepartment of Intervention Research in Exercise Training, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Florian MickeDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, NRW, Germany.
Stephan GeislerDepartment of Fitness and Health, IST-University of Applied Sciences, Dusseldorf, NRW, Germany.
Eduard IsenmannDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, NRW, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundConcurrent training (CT), the combination of resistance training (RT) and endurance training (ET), is widely used in athletic and clinical settings. However, concerns about a potential interference effect have prompted ongoing debate regarding its impact on strength, power, hypertrophy, and aerobic capacity.

methodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and PsycNet following PRISMA guidelines and the four-eyes principle (28th February 2025). Main outcomes included aerobic capacity, muscle strength, power, and hypertrophy. Subgroup analyses were performed based on training modality, performance level, age, resistance training load, and endurance intensity.

resultsSeventeen meta-analyses comprising 144 individual studies and 1492 healthy participants were included. Umbrella data revealed comparable improvements in aerobic capacity for CT and ET. CT revealed significantly greater strength adaptations compared with ET (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.59; p < 0.001). Compared with RT, CT significantly improved aerobic capacity (SMD 0.77; p = 0.02), while strength, power, and hypertrophy outcomes were comparable. No significant effects of training sequence were found; however, trends suggest performing RT before ET may favor strength (SMD 1.69; p < 0.001) and hypertrophy (SMD 0.83; p = 0.36) gains.

conclusionCT improves both aerobic capacity and strength-related outcomes, making it a valuable strategy for comprehensive fitness development for recreationally trained individuals. While no relevant differences were found regarding the training sequence, performing RT before ET may enhance strength and hypertrophy adaptations. However, data from highly trained to elite athletes remain scarce and warrant further investigation. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42025646460.

Indexed as

Adaptation, PhysiologicalEndurance TrainingResistance TrainingHumansMeta-Analysis as TopicMuscle, SkeletalMuscle StrengthPhysical Endurance

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.