Research

Mixed

During short-term concurrent training (8 weeks), combining resistance training with either high-intensity interval training (HIT) or work-matched moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) attenuates maximal lower-body strength gains to a similar degree compared to resistance training alone, indicating that endurance training intensity is not a critical mediator of the interference effect.

If you are doing both cardio and weights, don't worry about choosing 'easy' cardio to protect your strength. As long as you burn the same amount of energy (work-matched), high-intensity intervals will interfere with your strength gains just as much as moderate steady-state cardio. Focus on managing your total volume and recovery rather than avoiding high intensity.

GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
We conclude that concurrent training incorporating either HIT or work-matched MICT similarly attenuates improvements in maximal lower-body strength and indices of CMJ performance compared with RT performed alone. This suggests endurance training intensity is not a critical mediator of interference to maximal strength gain during short-term concurrent training.
Jackson J. Fyfe et al. · Frontiers in Physiology · 2016

Why this rating

Randomized controlled trial with work-matched protocols, though sample size is small (n=23) and duration is short (8 weeks).

Source

Endurance Training Intensity Does Not Mediate Interference to Maximal Lower-Body Strength Gain during Short-Term Concurrent Training

Jackson J. Fyfe et al. · Frontiers in Physiology · 2016

DOI 10.3389/fphys.2016.00487

rct · n=23Cited 87×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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