Comparison between eccentric-concentric and eccentric-only dumbbell arm curl exercise for the number of repetitions to failure over five sets
Abstract
Abstract – Shibata, K, Yamaguchi, T, Takizawa, K, and Nosaka, K. Comparison between eccentric-concentric and eccentric-only (ECC-only) dumbbell arm curl exercise for the number of repetitions to failure over five sets. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2026—We compared eccentric-concentric (ECC-CON) and ECC-only dumbbell arm curl exercises for the number of repetitions to failure (RF) over 5 sets with 1- and 3-minute rest between sets. Twelve healthy male university students participated in 3 sessions. In session 1, one-repetition maximum (1-RM) of ECC-CON for one arm and ECC-only for the other arm was assessed. In sessions 2 and 3, the number of RF over 5 sets of ECC-CON and ECC-only at 80% of respective 1-RM load until failure in each set was investigated. The rest interval between sets was 1-minute or 3-minute in a pseudo-randomized order in the 2 sessions. The number of RF in ECC-only (17.5 ± 7.1 for 1-minute, 18.4 ± 7.9 for 3-minute rest) was greater (p < 0.01) than that in ECC-CON (9.8 ± 2.0, 10.3 ± 2.2) in the first set. The number of RF decreased greater (p < 0.01) for ECC-only (−13.1 ± 6.4, −13.9 ± 6.4) than ECC-CON (−6.2 ± 2.1, −3.8 ± 1.7) from the first to the second set. The number of RF was smaller (p < 0.01) for ECC-only than ECC-CON in the third to the fifth sets in 3-minute rest condition (e.g. 3.2 ± 1.0 vs. 0.8 ± 1.3 in the fifth set) and was greater (p < 0.01) in 3-minute than in 1-minute rest condition for ECC-CON alone (e.g. 3.2 ± 1.0 vs. 1.3 ± 1.0 in the fifth set). These results suggest that the less fatigable characteristics in ECC-only were limited to the first set, and ECC-only induced greater decrease in the number of RF over sets. Prolonging the rest interval between sets did not increase the number of RF in ECC-only.
Keywords
eccentric contraction, fatigue, muscle damage, resistance exercise
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
ISSN
10648011
Publication Title
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Publisher
National Strength and Conditioning Association
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Copyright
subscription content
Content Type
Metadata only
Recommended Citation
Shibata, K., Yamaguchi, T., Takizawa, K., & Nosaka, K. (2026). Comparison between eccentric-concentric and eccentric-only dumbbell arm curl exercise for the number of repetitions to failure over five sets. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 40(8), 929–936. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000005432