Effects of velocity loss during resistance training on athletic performance, strength gains and muscle adaptations

We compared the effects of two resistance training (RT) programs only differing in the repetition velocity loss allowed in each set: 20% (VL20) vs 40% (VL40) on muscle structural and functional adaptations. Twenty‐two young males were randomly assigned to a VL20 (n = 12) or VL40 (n = 10) group. Subjects followed an 8‐week velocity‐based RT program using the squat exercise while monitoring repetition velocity. Pre‐ and post‐training assessments included: magnetic resonance imaging, vastus lateralis biopsies for muscle cross‐sectional area (CSA) and fiber type analyses, one‐repetition maximum strength and full load‐velocity squat profile, countermovement jump (CMJ), and 20‐m sprint running. VL20 resulted in similar squat strength gains than VL40 and greater improvements in CMJ (9.5% vs 3.5%, P < 0.05), despite VL20 performing 40% fewer repetitions. Although both groups increased mean fiber CSA and whole quadriceps muscle volume, VL40 training elicited a greater hypertrophy of vastus lateralis and intermedius than VL20. Training resulted in a reduction of myosin heavy chain IIX percentage in VL40, whereas it was preserved in VL20. In conclusion, the progressive accumulation of muscle fatigue as indicated by a more pronounced repetition velocity loss appears as an important variable in the configuration of the resistance exercise stimulus as it influences functional and structural neuromuscular adaptations.

[1]  J. J. González-Badillo,et al.  Velocity- and Power-Load Relationships of the Bench Pull vs. Bench Press Exercises , 2013, International Journal of Sports Medicine.

[2]  J. Calbet,et al.  Muscle Hypertrophy in Prepubescent Tennis Players: A Segmentation MRI Study , 2012, PloS one.

[3]  H. Westerblad,et al.  Muscle cell function during prolonged activity: cellular mechanisms of fatigue , 1995, Experimental physiology.

[4]  F. Pareja-Blanco,et al.  Effect of Movement Velocity during Resistance Training on Neuromuscular Performance , 2014, International Journal of Sports Medicine.

[5]  P. Aagaard,et al.  Early and late rate of force development: differential adaptive responses to resistance training? , 2010, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports.

[6]  P. K. Smith,et al.  Measurement of protein using bicinchoninic acid. , 1985, Analytical biochemistry.

[7]  D. Pyne,et al.  TRAINING LEADING TO REPETITION FAILURE ENHANCES BENCH PRESS STRENGTH GAINS IN ELITE JUNIOR ATHLETES , 2005, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[8]  Juan José González-Badillo,et al.  Velocity loss as an indicator of neuromuscular fatigue during resistance training. , 2011, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[9]  P. Aagaard,et al.  Correlation between contractile strength and myosin heavy chain isoform composition in human skeletal muscle. , 1998, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[10]  David Reversat,et al.  Manual segmentation of individual muscles of the quadriceps femoris using MRI: A reappraisal , 2014, Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI.

[11]  M. Izquierdo,et al.  Iliopsoas and Gluteal Muscles Are Asymmetric in Tennis Players but Not in Soccer Players , 2011, PloS one.

[12]  S B Heymsfield,et al.  Total-body skeletal muscle mass: development and cross-validation of anthropometric prediction models. , 2000, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[13]  D. Jones,et al.  Fatigue is not a necessary stimulus for strength gains during resistance training , 2002, British journal of sports medicine.

[14]  J. J. González-Badillo,et al.  Movement Velocity as a Measure of Loading Intensity in Resistance Training , 2010, International journal of sports medicine.

[15]  O. Rutherford,et al.  The role of metabolites in strength training , 1995, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[16]  J. Calbet,et al.  The upper extremity of the professional tennis player: muscle volumes, fiber‐type distribution and muscle strength , 2009, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports.

[17]  D. Biral,et al.  Myosin heavy chain composition of single fibres from normal human muscle. , 1988, The Biochemical journal.

[18]  M. Brooke,et al.  Muscle fiber types: how many and what kind? , 1970, Archives of neurology.

[19]  J. Sampson,et al.  Is repetition failure critical for the development of muscle hypertrophy and strength? , 2016, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports.

[20]  K. Sahlin,et al.  Cycling efficiency in humans is related to low UCP3 content and to type I fibres but not to mitochondrial efficiency , 2006, The Journal of physiology.

[21]  P. Aagaard,et al.  Myosin heavy chain IIX overshoot in human skeletal muscle , 2000, Muscle & nerve.

[22]  I. Ara,et al.  Effects of weight lifting training combined with plyometric exercises on physical fitness, body composition, and knee extension velocity during kicking in football. , 2008, Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme.

[23]  W. Kraemer,et al.  Resistance Exercise Biology , 2008, Sports medicine.

[24]  Jonathan P. Folland,et al.  Morphological and Neurological Contributions to Increased Strength , 2007, Sports medicine.

[25]  Jeffrey M Willardson,et al.  The application of training to failure in periodized multiple-set resistance exercise programs. , 2007, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[26]  B. Saltin,et al.  Sprint training, in vitro and in vivo muscle function, and myosin heavy chain expression. , 1998, Journal of applied physiology.

[27]  Y. Hellsten,et al.  Energy Metabolism during Repeated Sets of Leg Press Exercise Leading to Failure or Not , 2012, PloS one.

[28]  B. Schoenfeld.  The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. , 2010, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[29]  J. J. González-Badillo,et al.  Importance of the Propulsive Phase in Strength Assessment , 2009, International journal of sports medicine.

[30]  Per Aagaard,et al.  Changes in the human muscle force-velocity relationship in response to resistance training and subsequent detraining. , 2005, Journal of applied physiology.

[31]  Juan José González-Badillo,et al.  Differential effects of strength training leading to failure versus not to failure on hormonal responses, strength, and muscle power gains. , 2006, Journal of applied physiology.

[32]  E A Harman,et al.  Compatibility of high-intensity strength and endurance training on hormonal and skeletal muscle adaptations. , 1995, Journal of applied physiology.

[33]  E. Simonsen,et al.  A mechanism for increased contractile strength of human pennate muscle in response to strength training: changes in muscle architecture , 2001, The Journal of physiology.

[34]  F C Hagerman,et al.  Strength and skeletal muscle adaptations in heavy-resistance-trained women after detraining and retraining. , 1991, Journal of applied physiology.

[35]  M. Izquierdo,et al.  Concurrent endurance and strength training not to failure optimizes performance gains. , 2009, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[36]  E. Blomstrand,et al.  The needle biopsy technique for fibre type determination in human skeletal muscle--a methodological study. , 1982, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[37]  B. Gerdle,et al.  Myosin heavy chain isoforms influence surface EMG parameters: a study of the trapezius muscle in cleaners with and without myalgia and in healthy teachers , 2002, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[38]  K. Häkkinen,et al.  Acute hormonal and neuromuscular responses and recovery to forced vs maximum repetitions multiple resistance exercises. , 2003, International journal of sports medicine.

[39]  R D Herbert,et al.  Fatigue contributes to the strength training stimulus. , 1994, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[40]  Juan José González-Badillo,et al.  Maximal intended velocity training induces greater gains in bench press performance than deliberately slower half-velocity training , 2014, European journal of sport science.

[41]  S. Harridge.  Plasticity of human skeletal muscle: gene expression to in vivo function , 2007, Experimental physiology.

[42]  T. Delorme.  RESTORATION OF MUSCLE POWER BY HEAVY-RESISTANCE EXERCISES , 1945 .

[43]  Gerson Campos,et al.  Muscular adaptations in response to three different resistance-training regimens: specificity of repetition maximum training zones , 2002, European Journal of Applied Physiology.