Skip to main content
Erschienen in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 12/2014

01.12.2014 | Original Article

Muscle activation during low- versus high-load resistance training in well-trained men

verfasst von: Brad J. Schoenfeld, Bret Contreras, Jeffrey M. Willardson, Fabio Fontana, Gul Tiryaki-Sonmez

Erschienen in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Ausgabe 12/2014

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Purpose

It has been hypothesized that lifting light loads to muscular failure will activate the full spectrum of MUs and thus bring about muscular adaptations similar to high-load training. The purpose of this study was to investigate EMG activity during low- versus high-load training during performance of a multi-joint exercise by well-trained subjects.

Methods

Employing a within-subject design, 10 young, resistance-trained men performed sets of the leg press at different intensities of load: a high-load (HL) set at 75 % of 1-RM and a low-load (LL) set at 30 % of 1-RM. The order of performance of the exercises was counterbalanced between participants, so that half of the subjects performed LL first and the other half performed HL first, separated by 15 min rest. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to assess mean and peak muscle activation of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris.

Results

Significant main effects for trials and muscles were found (p < 0.01). Significantly greater peak EMG activity was found during the HL set (M = 177.3, SD = 89.53) compared to the LL set (M = 137.73, SD = 95.35). Significantly greater mean EMG activity was found during the HL set (M = 63.7, SD = 37.23) compared to the LL set (M = 41.63, SD = 28.03).

Conclusions

Results indicate that training with a load of 30 % 1-RM to momentary muscular failure does not maximally activate the full motor unit pool of the quadriceps femoris and hamstrings during performance of multi-joint lower body exercise.
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Adams G, Bamman MM (2012) Characterization and regulation of mechanical loading-induced compensatory muscle hypertrophy. Compr Physiol 2(4):2829–2870PubMed Adams G, Bamman MM (2012) Characterization and regulation of mechanical loading-induced compensatory muscle hypertrophy. Compr Physiol 2(4):2829–2870PubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Baechle TR, Earle RW (eds) (2008) Essentials of strength training and conditioning. Human Kinetics, Champaign Baechle TR, Earle RW (eds) (2008) Essentials of strength training and conditioning. Human Kinetics, Champaign
Zurück zum Zitat Burd NA, Mitchell CJ, Churchward-Venne TA, Phillips SM (2012) Bigger weights may not beget bigger muscles: evidence from acute muscle protein synthetic responses after resistance exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 37:551–554. doi:10.1139/h2012-022 PubMedCrossRef Burd NA, Mitchell CJ, Churchward-Venne TA, Phillips SM (2012) Bigger weights may not beget bigger muscles: evidence from acute muscle protein synthetic responses after resistance exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 37:551–554. doi:10.​1139/​h2012-022 PubMedCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Campos GER, Luecke TJ, Wendeln HK et al (2002) Muscular adaptations in response to three different resistance-training regimens: specificity of repetition maximum training zones. Eur J Appl Physiol 88:50–60PubMedCrossRef Campos GER, Luecke TJ, Wendeln HK et al (2002) Muscular adaptations in response to three different resistance-training regimens: specificity of repetition maximum training zones. Eur J Appl Physiol 88:50–60PubMedCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Hislop H, Montgomery J (2002) Daniels and Wortingham’s muscle testing: techniques of manual examination. WB Saunders, Philadelphia Hislop H, Montgomery J (2002) Daniels and Wortingham’s muscle testing: techniques of manual examination. WB Saunders, Philadelphia
Zurück zum Zitat Ogasawara R, Loenneke JP, Thiebaud RS, Abe T (2013) Low-load bench press training to fatigue results in muscle hypertrophy similar to high-load bench press training. Int J Clin Med 4:114–121CrossRef Ogasawara R, Loenneke JP, Thiebaud RS, Abe T (2013) Low-load bench press training to fatigue results in muscle hypertrophy similar to high-load bench press training. Int J Clin Med 4:114–121CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Phillips SM, Tipton KD, Aarsland A, Wolf SE, Wolfe RR (1997) Mixed muscle protein synthesis and breakdown after resistance exercise in humans. Am J Physiol 273:E99–107PubMed Phillips SM, Tipton KD, Aarsland A, Wolf SE, Wolfe RR (1997) Mixed muscle protein synthesis and breakdown after resistance exercise in humans. Am J Physiol 273:E99–107PubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Popov DV, Tsvirkun DV, Netreba AI et al (2006) Hormonal adaptation determines the increase in muscle mass and strength during low-intensity strength training without relaxation. Fiziol Cheloveka 32:121–127PubMed Popov DV, Tsvirkun DV, Netreba AI et al (2006) Hormonal adaptation determines the increase in muscle mass and strength during low-intensity strength training without relaxation. Fiziol Cheloveka 32:121–127PubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Spiering BA, Kraemer WJ, Anderson JM et al (2008) Resistance exercise biology: manipulation of resistance exercise programme variables determines the responses of cellular and molecular signalling pathways. Sports Med 38:527–540PubMedCrossRef Spiering BA, Kraemer WJ, Anderson JM et al (2008) Resistance exercise biology: manipulation of resistance exercise programme variables determines the responses of cellular and molecular signalling pathways. Sports Med 38:527–540PubMedCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Tanimoto M, Sanada K, Yamamoto K et al (2008) Effects of whole-body low-intensity resistance training with slow movement and tonic force generation on muscular size and strength in young men. J Strength Cond Res 22:1926–1938. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e318185f2b0 PubMedCrossRef Tanimoto M, Sanada K, Yamamoto K et al (2008) Effects of whole-body low-intensity resistance training with slow movement and tonic force generation on muscular size and strength in young men. J Strength Cond Res 22:1926–1938. doi:10.​1519/​JSC.​0b013e318185f2b0​ PubMedCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Wernbom M, Augustsson J, Thomee R (2007) The influence of frequency, intensity, volume and mode of strength training on whole muscle cross-sectional area in humans. Sports Med 37:225–264PubMedCrossRef Wernbom M, Augustsson J, Thomee R (2007) The influence of frequency, intensity, volume and mode of strength training on whole muscle cross-sectional area in humans. Sports Med 37:225–264PubMedCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Wilk KE, Escamilla RF, Fleisig GS, Barrentine SW, Andrews JR, Boyd ML (1996) A comparison of tibiofemoral joint forces and electromyographic activity during open and closed kinetic chain exercises. Am J Sports Med 24:518–527PubMedCrossRef Wilk KE, Escamilla RF, Fleisig GS, Barrentine SW, Andrews JR, Boyd ML (1996) A comparison of tibiofemoral joint forces and electromyographic activity during open and closed kinetic chain exercises. Am J Sports Med 24:518–527PubMedCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Willardson JM (2006) A brief review: factors affecting the length of the rest interval between resistance exercise sets. J Strength Cond Res 20:978–984. doi:10.1519/R-17995.1 PubMed Willardson JM (2006) A brief review: factors affecting the length of the rest interval between resistance exercise sets. J Strength Cond Res 20:978–984. doi:10.​1519/​R-17995.​1 PubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Wright GA, Delong T, Gehlsen G (1999) Electromyographic activity of the hamstrings during performance of the leg curl, stiff-leg deadlift and back squat movements. J Strength Cond Res 13:168–174 Wright GA, Delong T, Gehlsen G (1999) Electromyographic activity of the hamstrings during performance of the leg curl, stiff-leg deadlift and back squat movements. J Strength Cond Res 13:168–174
Metadaten
Titel
Muscle activation during low- versus high-load resistance training in well-trained men
verfasst von
Brad J. Schoenfeld
Bret Contreras
Jeffrey M. Willardson
Fabio Fontana
Gul Tiryaki-Sonmez
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2014
Verlag
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Ausgabe 12/2014
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Elektronische ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2976-9

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 12/2014

European Journal of Applied Physiology 12/2014 Zur Ausgabe