Effects of high-intensity resistance training within concurrent training programs on athletic performance in elite athletes: a systematic review
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- 2Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- 3National Sports Complex, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- 4Department of Physical Education, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- 5School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
Abstract
Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT), operationally defined as resistance protocols utilizing loads ≥ 75% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), on athletic performance outcomes—including muscular strength, power, jumping performance, speed, preplanned change-of-direction (COD) speed, and endurance—among elite athletes.
Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and SPORTDiscus to identify studies that applied HIRT in elite athlete populations. Google Scholar was additionally utilized for forward and backward citation tracking. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed using the PEDro scale. Data on intervention characteristics, testing protocols, and performance outcomes were extracted and synthesized narratively.
Results: HIRT interventions (range: 5–18 weeks) demonstrated significant improvements in maximal strength ( e.g. , squat and bench press 1RM) and neuromuscular power-related outcomes across the majority of studies. Improvements in sprint speed, sport-specific velocity, and preplanned COD speed were also observed, although evidence for COD performance was limited to a single study. Endurance-related outcomes, including time to exhaustion, movement economy, and selected time-trial measures, generally favored HIRT, with no clear evidence of detrimental effects on aerobic-capacity-related outcomes. However, all included studies implemented HIRT within concurrent training programs rather than as an isolated intervention.
Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that HIRT may be an effective training component for improving strength, power, and selected performance outcomes in elite athletes when integrated into concurrent sport-specific training programs. The strongest support was observed for maximal strength and neuromuscular power, whereas evidence for preplanned COD speed remains preliminary and requires replication. Given the concurrent training designs, the absence of a formal GRADE assessment, and the generally small sample sizes, these findings should be interpreted as likely low-to-moderate certainty evidence rather than as proof of the isolated effects of HIRT. The review protocol was prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 6 January 2025 (Registration No.: CRD42025634254).
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026effects,
title = {{Effects of high-intensity resistance training within concurrent training programs on athletic performance in elite athletes: a systematic review}},
author = {Tao Wang and Yee Guan Ng and Saidon Amri and Tengku Fadilah Kamalden and Zhendong Gao and Qian Yuan},
journal = {PeerJ},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.7717/peerj.21807},
url = {https://peerj.com/articles/21807},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of high-intensity resistance training within concurrent training programs on athletic performance in elite athletes: a systematic review
AU - Tao Wang
AU - Yee Guan Ng
AU - Saidon Amri
AU - Tengku Fadilah Kamalden
AU - Zhendong Gao
AU - Qian Yuan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - PeerJ
DO - 10.7717/peerj.21807
UR - https://peerj.com/articles/21807
AB - Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT), operationally defined as resistance protocols utilizing loads ≥ 75% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), on athletic performance outcomes—including muscular strength, power, jumping performance, speed, preplanned change-of-direction (COD) speed, and endurance—among elite athletes. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and SPORTDiscus to identify studies that applied HIRT in elite athlete populations. Google Scholar was additionally utilized for forward and backward citation tracking. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed using the PEDro scale. Data on intervention characteristics, testing protocols, and performance outcomes were extracted and synthesized narratively. Results: HIRT interventions (range: 5–18 weeks) demonstrated significant improvements in maximal strength ( e.g. , squat and bench press 1RM) and neuromuscular power-related outcomes across the majority of studies. Improvements in sprint speed, sport-specific velocity, and preplanned COD speed were also observed, although evidence for COD performance was limited to a single study. Endurance-related outcomes, including time to exhaustion, movement economy, and selected time-trial measures, generally favored HIRT, with no clear evidence of detrimental effects on aerobic-capacity-related outcomes. However, all included studies implemented HIRT within concurrent training programs rather than as an isolated intervention. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that HIRT may be an effective training component for improving strength, power, and selected performance outcomes in elite athletes when integrated into concurrent sport-specific training programs. The strongest support was observed for maximal strength and neuromuscular power, whereas evidence for preplanned COD speed remains preliminary and requires replication. Given the concurrent training designs, the absence of a formal GRADE assessment, and the generally small sample sizes, these findings should be interpreted as likely low-to-moderate certainty evidence rather than as proof of the isolated effects of HIRT. The review protocol was prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 6 January 2025 (Registration No.: CRD42025634254).
SN - 2167-8359
ER -