Greater effects by performing a small number of eccentric contractions daily than a larger number of them once a week
Abstract
Our previous study found that one maximal voluntary eccentric contraction (MVC-ECC) performed daily for 5 days a week for 4 weeks increased MVC-ECC, isometric (MVC-ISO), and concentric contraction (MVC-CON) torque of the elbow flexors more than 10 %. The present study investigated the effects of six maximal voluntary eccentric contractions on the MVC torques and biceps brachii and brachialis muscle thickness (MT). Thirty-six healthy young adults were placed to one of the three groups (N = 12 per group); the 6 × 1 group that performed one set of six contractions once a week, the 6 × 5 group that performed one set of six contractions a day for 5 days a week, and the 30 × 1 group that performed five sets of six contractions a day in a week. The training duration was 4 weeks for all groups, and changes in MVC-ECC, MVC-CON and MVC-ISO torque, and MT before and after the 4-week training were compared among the groups. The 6 × 1 group did not show significant changes in muscle strength and MT. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in MVC-ECC (13.5 ± 11.5 %), MVC-ISO (9.3 ± 5.5 %), MVC-CON torque (11.1 ± 7.4 %) were evident for the 6 × 5 group only, and increases in MT were found for the 6 × 5 (10.4 ± 4.4 %) and 30 × 1 (8.0 ± 5.8 %) groups without a significant difference. These results suggest that performing a small number of eccentric contractions 5 days a week is more effective for increasing muscle strength than performing a larger volume of eccentric contractions once a week. However, it appears that training volume is a factor for muscle hypertrophy in a short-term training.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
11-1-2022
Volume
32
Issue
11
PubMed ID
35908200
Publication Title
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
Publisher
Wiley
School
Centre for Human Performance / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
52030
Copyright
subscription content
First Page
1602
Last Page
1614
Comments
Yoshida, R., Sato, S., Kasahara, K., Murakami, Y., Murakoshi, F., Aizawa, K., ... & Nakamura, M. (2022). Greater effects by performing a small number of eccentric contractions daily than a larger number of them once a week. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32(11), 1602-1614.
https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14220