Metcon circuits....some research

Acute physiological responses to different circuit training protocols.

Courtesy of Conditioning Research: http://conditioningresearch.blogspot.com/

Here is a new bit of research that looks at this type of training. It compared circuit weight training with combined circuit training (weight training and treadmill run). The Combined Circuit Training wins......

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18997645?dopt=Abstract

University City of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil saldanha.caf@usp.br.

AIM: The purpose of present study was to compare the acute physiological responses to a circuit weight training with the responses to a combined circuit training (weight training and treadmill run). METHODS: The sample consisted of 25 individuals at an average state of training, 10 men and 15 female, between 18 and 35 year old. There were selected 60 second sets of resistance exercises to the circuit weight training (CWT). Whereas in the combined circuit training (CCT), the subjects spent 30 seconds on the same resistance exercises and 30 seconds running on the treadmill. The rest intervals between the sets lasted 15 seconds. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) with 5% significance level was utilized to the statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: Comparing circuit training protocols, it was noted that CCT elicits a higher relative and absolute VO(2) and energy expenditure values than CWT for both genders (P<0.05). Regarding inter-gender comparison, males showed higher absolute and relative VO(2) and absolute energy expenditure values for both CWT and CCT than females (P<0.05). Females showed a significant greater %VO(2max) value for both CWT and CCT. Due to the experimental conditions used to state both circuit training bouts (CWT and CCT), the VO(2) rate found was higher than the values reported by previous studies which used heavier weight lift.

CONCLUSION: CCT seems adequate to produce cardiovascular improvements and greater energy expenditure for both men and women, while CWT group classes are sufficient only for unfit women.