PURPOSE: Whilst skeletal muscle hypertrophy is considered an important adaptation to resistance training (RT), it has not previously been found to explain the inter-individual changes in strength after RT. This study investigated the contribution of hypertrophy to individual gains in isometric, isoinertial and explosive strength after 12 weeks of elbow flexor RT. METHODS: Thirty-three previously untrained, healthy men (18-30 years) completed an initial 3-week period of elbow flexor RT (to facilitate neurological responses) followed by 6-week no training, and then 12-week elbow flexor RT. Unilateral elbow flexor muscle strength [isometric maximum voluntary force (iMVF), single repetition maximum (1-RM) and explosive force], muscle volume (V(m)), muscle fascicle pennation angle (θ(p)) and normalized agonist, antagonist and stabilizer sEMG were assessed pre and post 12-week RT. RESULTS: Percentage gains in V(m) correlated with percentage changes in iMVF (r = 0.527; P = 0.002) and 1-RM (r = 0.482; P = 0.005) but not in explosive force (r ≤ 0.243; P ≥ 0.175). Percentage changes in iMVF, 1-RM, and explosive force did not correlate with percentage changes in agonist, antagonist or stabilizer sEMG (all P > 0.05). Percentage gains in θ(p) inversely correlated with percentage changes in normalized explosive force at 150 ms after force onset (r = 0.362; P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown for the first time that muscle hypertrophy explains a significant proportion of the inter-individual variability in isometric and isoinertial strength gains following 12-week elbow flexor RT in healthy young men.
PURPOSE: Whilst skeletal muscle hypertrophy is considered an important adaptation to resistance training (RT), it has not previously been found to explain the inter-individual changes in strength after RT. This study investigated the contribution of hypertrophy to individual gains in isometric, isoinertial and explosive strength after 12 weeks of elbow flexor RT. METHODS: Thirty-three previously untrained, healthy men (18-30 years) completed an initial 3-week period of elbow flexor RT (to facilitate neurological responses) followed by 6-week no training, and then 12-week elbow flexor RT. Unilateral elbow flexor muscle strength [isometric maximum voluntary force (iMVF), single repetition maximum (1-RM) and explosive force], muscle volume (V(m)), muscle fascicle pennation angle (θ(p)) and normalized agonist, antagonist and stabilizer sEMG were assessed pre and post 12-week RT. RESULTS: Percentage gains in V(m) correlated with percentage changes in iMVF (r = 0.527; P = 0.002) and 1-RM (r = 0.482; P = 0.005) but not in explosive force (r ≤ 0.243; P ≥ 0.175). Percentage changes in iMVF, 1-RM, and explosive force did not correlate with percentage changes in agonist, antagonist or stabilizer sEMG (all P > 0.05). Percentage gains in θ(p) inversely correlated with percentage changes in normalized explosive force at 150 ms after force onset (r = 0.362; P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown for the first time that muscle hypertrophy explains a significant proportion of the inter-individual variability in isometric and isoinertial strength gains following 12-week elbow flexor RT in healthy young men.
Authors: Ethan C Hill; Terry J Housh; Joshua L Keller; Cory M Smith; John V Anders; Richard J Schmidt; Glen O Johnson; Joel T Cramer Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2021-02-27 Impact factor: 3.078
Authors: Thomas G Balshaw; Garry J Massey; Thomas M Maden-Wilkinson; Jonathan P Folland Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2017-04-22 Impact factor: 3.078
Authors: Thomas G Balshaw; Garry J Massey; Thomas M Maden-Wilkinson; Antonio J Morales-Artacho; Alexandra McKeown; Clare L Appleby; Jonathan P Folland Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2017-02-26 Impact factor: 3.078
Authors: Scott J Dankel; Samuel L Buckner; Matthew B Jessee; J Grant Mouser; Kevin T Mattocks; Takashi Abe; Jeremy P Loenneke Journal: Sports Med Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 11.136
Authors: Ethan C Hill; Terry J Housh; Joshua L Keller; Cory M Smith; John V Anders; Richard J Schmidt; Glen O Johnson; Joel T Cramer Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2019-12-17 Impact factor: 3.078