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Effect of Linear and Weekly Undulating Resistance Training on VO2max and vVO2max in Project Athletes

Abebe Getie Adgeh, Alemayehu BELAY, Berhanie Asrat Bekele · Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences · 2026

This study compared linear versus weekly undulating resistance training in male runners over 12 weeks to see which approach better improved VO2max (aerobic capacity) and vVO2max (speed at max oxygen uptake). Both training styles significantly improved both measures, but weekly undulating training produced greater improvements in vVO2max while VO2max gains were similar between groups.
Takeaway: Use weekly undulating resistance training if your primary goal is improving speed at maximum oxygen uptake.
Abstract (source)

Resistance training is widely used to enhance VO2max, vVO2max, and sprint capacity. However, the relative effectiveness of different resistance training models remains unclear. Therefore, this randomized experimental study compared the effects of linear and weekly undulating resistance training on estimated VO2max and vVO2max in male runners. Thirty-six athletes were randomly assigned to linear (n = 18) or weekly undulating group (n = 18). Data were analyzed using a two-way mixed-

Design: ANOVA via SPSS Statistics (Version 26 for Windows; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with level of

Significance: set at p < 0.05. The analysis revealed a significant main effect of Time on estimated VO2max, F (1, 34) = 244.30, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.878. However, neither the main effect of Group, F (1, 34) = 3.01, p = 0.092, ηₚ² = 0.081, nor the Time × Group interaction, F (1, 34) = 1.79, p = 0.190, ηₚ² = 0.050, reached statistical

significance. For estimated vVO2max, a significant effect of Time was observed, F (1, 34) = 149.62, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.815. The main effect of Group was not significant, F (1, 34) = 1.55, p = 0.222, ηₚ² = 0.044. However, a significant Time × Group interaction was found, F (1, 34) = 4.40, p = 0.043, ηₚ² = 0.115. In

Conclusion: , both the 12-week linear and weekly undulating group significantly improved estimated VO2max and vVO2max. Estimated VO2max improvements were similar between groups, whereas the weekly undulating group elicited significantly greater gains in estimated vVO2max compared with the linear group.

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