🏋️♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong/posts/modeling-how-is-164322473 🏋️♀️
Okay. Here is the thing: we're getting told that even weightlifters should do some cardio for health and recovery, but will it ruin Olympic weightlifting performance? No one has tested.
And I get it. Imagine running a training study where you get weightlifters to run a certain number of minutes (or kms) and test whether their power production drops. Sounds like a hard sell for me. Dr Emidio Pistilli's approach was different.
Instead of testing real Olympic weightlifters, he modeled the interference effect between cardio and power generation using existing data.
Ed Pistilli is a professor in the Division of Exercise Physiology at West Virginia University, where he has taught courses in neuromuscular physiology and strength & conditioning. He holds a master's degree in Exercise Science from Appalachian State University, a PhD in Exercise Physiology from West Virginia University, the Level 1 Coach certification from USA Weightlifting, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania. Current research interests Dr. Pistilli is pursuing include muscle fatigue and cancer, as well as neuromuscular adaptations to weightlifting.
Enjoy!
Original research paper:
Pistilli EE, Mizener AD, Clayton SA. A Model to Simulate the Interference Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Rate of Force Development in Weightlifters. bioRxiv. 2025 Dec 22:2025-12.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.18.695222v1.abstract
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