Manipulating Resistance Training Variables to Induce Muscle Strength and Hypertrophy: A Brief Narrative Review.

The regular practice of resistance training (RT) has been shown to induce relevant increases in both muscle strength and size. In order to maximize these adaptations, the proper manipulation of RT variables is warranted. In this sense, the aim of the present study was to review the available literature that has examined the application of the acute training variables and their influence on strength and morphological adaptations of healthy young adults. The information presented in this study may represent a relevant approach to proper training design. Therefore, strength and conditioning coaches may acquire a fundamental understanding of RT-variables and the relevance of their practical application within exercise prescription.

Pre-exhaustion Training, a Narrative Review of the Acute Responses and Chronic Adaptations.

Pre-exhaustion (PE) is a popular resistance training strategy that involves performing a single-joint exercise followed by a multi-joint exercise with minimal recovery between the transition. This approach is widely used by bodybuilding athletes and resistance training (RT) enthusiasts with the aim of enhancing muscle strength and hypertrophy. The present paper aimed to provide a narrative review as to the effects of the PE method on different acute and chronic outcomes, and discuss relevant practical applications. When considering the body of literature as a whole, we conclude that current evidence does not support a benefit to the PE method compared to traditional RT models regarding chronic improvements in strength, hypertrophy and body composition. However, the heterogeneous study designs confound the ability to draw strong conclusions on the topic. Further investigations are warranted with strict control of study variables to better elucidate what, if any, benefits may be obtained by the PE method.

Efeitos do treinamento de força com intensidade autosselecionada em paciente pós cirurgia bariátrica: um estudo de caso / Strenght training with self-selected intensity on a pacient post bariatric surgery

A prescrição de exercícios físicos em intensidades moderada e alta, para indivíduos obesos, pode induzir maiores percepções de desconforto/desprazer e, consequentemente, desencorajá-los a aderir a uma rotina de exercícios físicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos de um programa de treinamento de força com intensidade autosselecionada, na composição corporal, hipertrofia e qualidade do sono de uma voluntária recémsubmetida a cirurgia bariátrica (idade: 28 anos; altura: 158cm; peso: 69 kg; índice de massa corporal: 27,64). A voluntária realizou um programa de treinamento de força com intensidade autosselecionada, pelo período de oito semanas (2 sessões semanais). Foi avaliada a qualidade de sono, por meio do questionário Pittsburgh sleep quality index; a composição corporal, por absorciometria de feixe duplo; e, a espessura muscular e do tecido adiposo, por ultrassonografia; antes e após a intervenção. Antes e após as sessões de treinamento, a percepção de prazer/desprazer foi mensurada com o auxílio de uma escala de valência afetiva. O programa de exercícios com intensidade autosselecionada resultou em uma diminuição de 2% no percentual de gordura, e de 7% na massa corporal total; sem modificação para a massa livre de gordura. Houve redução de 22% na espessura do tecido adiposo, e de 11% na espessura muscular do bíceps braquial; de 28% na espessura do tecido adiposo, e de 4% na espessura muscular do vasto lateral. A voluntária reportou percepção de prazer/desprazer positiva na maioria das sessões. No entanto, não houve diferença significativa entre os resultados para qualidade de sono. O treinamento com intensidade autosselecionada promoveu respostas positivas, relacionadas à percepção de prazer/desprazer, além de favorecer uma tendência à perda significativa de massa corporal total, sem prejuízos para a massa magra.(AU)

The prescription of physical exercise in moderate and high intensities for obese individuals may induce greater perceptions of discomfort/displeasure, consequently, decline adherence to a physical exercise routine. The objective of this study was investigate the effects of a strength training program with self-selected intensity, body composition, hypertrophy and sleep quality of a participant recently bariatric surgery (age: 28 years; height: 158cm; weight: 69 kg; body mass index: 27.64). The participant performed a strength training program with self-selection intensity, for a period of eight weeks (2 weekly sessions). Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index questionnaire; body composition, by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, muscle and adipose tissue thickness by ultrasound. Each measure was before and after the intervention. Before and after the training sessions, the perception of pleasure/displeasure was measured with the affective valence scale. The exercise program with self-selected intensity resulted in a 2% decrease in fat percentage, and 7% in total body mass; without modification to the fat-free mass. Yet, there was a reduction of 22% in the thickness of adipose tissue, and 11% in the muscle thickness of the brachial biceps; 28% in the thickness of adipose tissue, and 4% in the muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis. The participant reported a perception of positive pleasure in most sessions. However, there was no significant difference between the results for sleep quality. The training with self-selected intensity promoted positive responses, related to the perception of pleasure/displeasure, besides promote a tendency to significant loss of total body mass, without damage to lean mass. (AU)

Carbohydrate refeed does not modify GVT-performance following energy restriction in bodybuilders.

Bodybuilding is a sport in which competitors' physiques are judged on their muscular size, symmetry, and leanness, as displayed in a number of different poses. In the pre-competitive period, bodybuilders attempt to reduce body fat stores as much as possible while maintaining fat-free mass (FFM). This is achieved via a sustained negative energy balance, generally induced by a combination of decreased energy intake and increased energy expenditure. This study aimed to assess the ability of bodybuilders to resist fatigue during resistance exercise based German Volume Training (GVT), as well as the affective response after carbohydrate refeed following four weeks of moderate or severe energy restriction. Eleven male bodybuilders (28.4 ± 2.3 years old) with experience in competitions were randomized into two groups: Moderate Energy Restriction (MER; n = 6) or Severe Energy Restriction (SER; n = 5). On the 2nd day (during energy restriction) and 7th day (during refeed) of the fourth week, both groups completed two leg press protocols involving the GVT method. After the first and last workout protocol subjects were assessed for muscle soreness using the visual-analog scale (VAS), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), affective response, lactate, and creatine kinase. Anthropometric analysis indicated that a reduction of 3.7 and 3.2% in body mass corresponded to a loss of 16.0 and 17.6% of fat mass for the MER and SER groups, respectively, with both groups maintaining FFM. Blood CK and VAS values were reduced only in SER. Our results suggest that a carbohydrate refeed may help to attenuate the perception of muscle soreness and maintain exercise performance, especially when severe energy restriction is combined with an intense training protocol such as GVT.

The impact of quarantine on body image and lifestyle habits in resistance training practitioners / Impacto da quarentena sobre a percepção da imagem corporal e hábitos dos praticantes de musculação / Impacto de la cuarentena sobre la percepción de la imagen corporaly hábitos de los practicantes de musculación

ABSTRACT Introduction In order to curb the abrupt advance of "Coronavirus Disease 2019" (COVID-19) and prevent the collapse of the health system, authorities around the world have opted for social distancing strategies that include closing gyms, among other measures. Objectives This study analyzed the effect of social distancing on resistance training practitioners' quality of life and perception of body image in silhouette. Methods The volunteers were contacted through social media; data were collected between April 13 and 19, 2020, through a structured questionnaire, comprised of an Informed Consent Form, four questions about COVID-19 and restrictive measures; and twenty-nine questions designed to characterize the individuals' habits; as well as the Short Form Health Survey 36 questionnaire. All the questionnaires were applied over the Internet, using Google Forms®. After collection, the data were tabulated and interpreted using the software program AppleNumbers®, and subsequently presented as mean, standard deviation and percentiles. Results The results revealed changes in perception of body image and decreased frequency and satisfaction with training. There was also an increase in sedentary behavior, food intake, and amount of sleep; and a reduction in parameters related to health and quality of life. Conclusions The strategy of social distancing, adopted to curb the progress of COVID-19, has harmful consequences for resistance training practitioners, such as increased calorie intake, stress and anxiety, as well as possible psychological effects. These consequences, in turn, lead to changes in self-perception of body image and in the quality of training. Level of Evidence III; Cross-sectional study of non-consecutive patients; without uniformly applied reference standard.

RESUMO Introdução Com o intuito de conter o avanço abrupto da "Coronavirus Disease 2019" (COVID-19) e evitar o colapso do sistema de saúde, autoridades mundiais optaram por estratégias de distanciamento social que compreendem o fechamento de academias, entre outras providências. Objetivos Este estudo analisou o efeito do distanciamento social sobre a qualidade de vida e a percepção da imagem corporal em silhueta de praticantes de treinamento de força. Métodos O contato com os voluntários foi realizado pelas mídias sociais e os dados foram coletados entre 13 e 19 de abril de 2020, por meio de um questionário estruturado, composto pelo Termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido, quatro questões sobre COVID-19 e medidas restritivas, vinte e nove questões destinadas à caracterização dos hábitos dos indivíduos, além do questionário Short Form Health Survey 36. Todos os questionários foram realizados no Google Forms®, com o auxílio da Internet. Depois da coleta, os dados foram tabulados e interpretados com o software AppleNumbers® e apresentados como média, desvio padrão e percentis. Resultados Os resultados revelaram alterações na percepção da imagem corporal, diminuição do volume e da satisfação com o treino. Ademais, foi observado um aumento do comportamento sedentário, da ingestão de alimentos e da quantidade de sono, além da redução dos parâmetros relacionados com a saúde e a qualidade de vida. Conclusões A estratégia de distanciamento social adotada para conter o avanço da COVID-19 revela consequências deletérias para os praticantes de treinamento de força, a saber, aumento da ingestão calórica, do estresse, da ansiedade, além de possíveis acometimentos de ordem psicológica. Essas consequências, por sua vez, promoveram alterações na percepção da autoimagem e na qualidade do treinamento. Nível de Evidência III; Estudo transversal de pacientes não consecutivos; sem padrão de referência aplicado uniformemente .

RESUMEN Introducción Con la intención de contener el avance abrupto de la "Coronavirus Disease 2019" (COVID-19) y evitar el colapso del sistema de salud, autoridades mundiales optaron por estrategias de distanciamiento social que comprenden el cierre de gimnasios, entre otras medidas. Objetivos Este estudio analizó el efecto del distanciamiento social sobre la calidad de vida y la percepción de la imagen corporal en silueta de practicantes de entrenamiento de fuerza. Métodos El contacto con los voluntarios fue realizado a través de las redes sociales y los datos fueron colectados entre el 13 y el 19 de abril de 2020, por medio de un cuestionario estructurado, compuesto por el Término de consentimiento libre y esclarecido, cuatro cuestiones sobre COVID-19 y medidas restrictivas, veintinueve cuestiones destinadas a la caracterización de los hábitos de los individuos, además del cuestionario Short Form Health Survey 36. Todos los cuestionarios fueron realizados en Google Forms®, con la ayuda de Internet. Después de la colecta, los datos fueron tabulados e interpretados con el software AppleNumbers® y presentados como promedio, desviación estándar y percentiles. Resultados Los resultados revelaron alteraciones en la percepción de la imagen corporal, disminución del volumen y de la satisfacción con el entrenamiento. Además, fue observado un aumento del comportamiento sedentario, de la ingestión de alimentos y de la cantidad de sueño; además de la reducción de los parámetros relacionados con la salud y la calidad de vida. Conclusiones La estrategia de distanciamiento social adoptada para contener el avance de la COVID-19 revela consecuencias deletéreas para los practicantes de entrenamiento de fuerza, tales como aumento de la ingestión calórica, estrés, ansiedad, además de posibles acometimientos de orden psicológico. Esas consecuencias, a su vez, promovieron alteraciones en la percepción de la autoimagen y en la calidad del entrenamiento. Nivel de evidencia III; Estudio transversal de pacientes no consecutivos; sin patrón de referencia aplicado uniformemente.

Pre-stretching of the Hamstrings Before Squatting Acutely Increases Biceps Femoris Thickness Without Impairing Exercise Performance.

Background: Bilateral squat exercise is widely used in resistance training (RT) programs to increase lower limb strength and muscle mass, but this exercise does not result in significant hypertrophy of the hamstrings. It has been speculated that stretching between sets with a certain degree of tension results in muscle hypertrophy, while acute stretching could decrease performance during maximal contractions. Objective: This study investigated the acute effects of hamstring stretching before bilateral squatting on muscle thickness (MT), electromyography (EMG), and total training volume (TTV) on exercise performance. Methods: Fourteen resistance-trained young men, with ∼7.5 years of RT experience, performed the 10 repetition maximum (RM) for the barbell squat in two sessions (test-retest) separated by period after 48 h. Participants engaged in two resistance exercise conditions separated by a 1 week recovery interval: one session employed hamstrings stretching and the other did not include hamstrings stretching. Before and after each resistance exercise session, the thickness of the quadriceps muscles and biceps femoris long head were obtained by ultrasound imaging. Moreover, the EMG amplitudes for the quadriceps muscles, biceps femoris, and iliocostalis muscles were recorded during back squat performance. The TTV was also evaluated for each exercise session. Results: A significant increase in MT was observed after every set in both conditions for the evaluated quadriceps muscles (all p < 0.05), while for the biceps femoris, this effect was found only in the stretching condition (p < 0.05). EMG activity increased in the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis for the stretching condition. For the non-stretching condition, activity only increased in the vastus lateralis and medialis. There was no difference in EMG activity for the biceps femoris and iliocostalis in both conditions. Conclusion: Stretching the hamstrings immediately before each set of the back squat can be used to acutely increase biceps femoris thickness without impairing squat performance.

Effects of Pre-exhaustion Versus Traditional Resistance Training on Training Volume, Maximal Strength, and Quadriceps Hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: The pre-exhaustion (PreEx) method is used as a resistance training (RT) method to increase muscle mass, yet the chronic effects of this method are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: Although readily prescribed as a RT method for promotion of muscle hypertrophy, few researches give light to gains made after chronic PreEx RT. Therefore, we compared the effects of traditional versus PreEx RT programs on muscle strength, body composition, and muscular hypertrophy in adult males. METHODS: Untrained subjects (age: 31.37 ± 6.83 years; height: 175.29 ± 5.52 cm; body mass: 82.04 ± 13.61 kg; 1RM leg press: 339.86 ± 61.17 kg; 1RM leg extension: 121.71 ± 11.93 kg) were submitted to 9 weeks of RT with weekly sessions. Traditional (TRT) group (n = 12) performed three sets at 45° of leg press exercise at 75% of 1RM, PreEx group (n = 12) completed a set to failure on a leg extension machine prior to the leg press, and the control (CON) group (n = 7) did not train. Maximum strength, muscle thickness, and body composition were analyzed. RESULTS: PreEx group increased in maximal strength on leg press (16 ± 8%) and leg extension (17 ± 11%), while the TRT group improved by 15 ± 9 and 11 ± 4%, respectively. The thickness of the quadriceps muscles increased for both intervention groups. Specifically, the post-training thickness of the vastus lateralis was significantly higher for PreEx (55%) compared to the CON group. The TRT group presented a greater loss of total and thigh fat mass when compared with the PreEx method. These results were found in the presence of a lower training load for the PreEx group. CONCLUSION: The PreEx training can decrease the total training volume while maintaining results in strength and hypertrophy when comparing to TRT. However, TRT may be optimal if the goal is to decrease fat mass.

Acute Effects of the New Method Sarcoplasma Stimulating Training Versus Traditional Resistance Training on Total Training Volume, Lactate and Muscle Thickness.

Background: Trained subjects have difficulty in achieving continued results following years of training, and the manipulation of training variables through advanced resistance training (RT) methods is widely recommended to break through plateaus. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the acute effects of traditional RT (TRT) versus two types of sarcoplasma stimulating training (SST) methods on total training volume (TTV), lactate, and muscle thickness (MT). Methods: Twelve trained males (20.75 ± 2.3 years; 1.76 ± 0.14 meters; body mass = 79.41 ± 4.6 kg; RT experience = 4.1 ± 1.8 years) completed three RT protocols in a randomly sequenced order: TRT, SST contraction type (SST-CT), or SST rest interval variable (SST-RIV) with 7 days between trials in arm curl (elbow flexors) and triceps pulley extension (elbow extensors) performed on the same day. Results: The SST groups displayed greater acute biceps and triceps brachii (TB) MT versus the TRT session, with no difference in lactate levels between them. The SST-CT resulted in greater biceps and TB MT versus the SST-RIV session. The TTV was greater for the TRT session versus the SST sessions, except in the case of the elbow flexors (no difference was observed between TRT and SST-CT), and higher for the SST-CT versus the SST-RIV. Conclusion: Trained subjects may benefit from using the SST method as this method may offer a superior MT stimulus and reduced training time, even with a lower TTV.