Strength and conditioning
Can you combine cardio with building muscle?
The short answer
Yes. An updated meta-analysis found, on average, no negative effect on muscle size or maximal strength from combined training compared with strength training alone. Explosive strength, however, could improve less.
What does that mean?
You do not automatically have to drop conditioning work because you want to build muscle. Give your main goal a clear place in your planning. For explosive sports performance, it can be relevant to spread strength and cardio training across separate sessions.
The nuance
This is no guarantee for every training volume or every athlete. Another meta-analysis at muscle-fibre level did find signs of a small interference effect. So the outcome measure you look at matters.
