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Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 10/2016

Open Access 01-10-2016 | Original Article

The impact of repetition mechanics on the adaptations resulting from strength-, hypertrophy- and cluster-type resistance training

Authors: G. Nicholson, T. Ispoglou, A. Bissas

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 10/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute and chronic training responses to strength-, hypertrophy- and cluster-type resistance training.

Methods

Thirty-four trained males were assigned to a strength [STR: 4 × 6 repetitions, 85 % of one repetition maximum, (1RM), 900 s total rest], hypertrophy (HYP: 5 × 10 repetitions, 70 % 1RM, 360 s total rest), cluster 1 (CL-1: 4 × 6/1 repetitions, 85 % 1RM, 1400 s total rest), and cluster 2 (CL-2: 4 × 6/1 repetitions, 90 % 1RM, 1400 s total rest) regimens which were performed twice weekly for a 6-week period. Measurements were taken before, during and following the four workouts to investigate the acute training stimulus, whilst similar measurements were employed to examine the training effects before and after the intervention.

Results

The improvements in 1RM strength were significantly greater for the STR (12.09 ± 2.75 %; p < 0.05, d = 1.106) and CL-2 (13.20 ± 2.18 %; p < 0.001, d = 0.816) regimens than the HYP regimen (8.13 ± 2.54 %, d = 0.453). In terms of the acute responses, the STR and CL-2 workouts resulted in greater time under tension (TUT) and impulse generation in individual repetitions than the HYP workout (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the STR (+3.65 ± 2.54 mmol/L−1) and HYP (+6.02 ± 2.97 mmol/L−1) workouts resulted in significantly greater elevations in blood lactate concentration (p < 0.001) than the CL-1 and CL-2 workouts.

Conclusion

CL regimens produced similar strength improvements to STR regimens even when volume load was elevated (CL-2). The effectiveness of the STR and CL-2 regimens underlines the importance of high loads and impulse generation for strength development.
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Metadata
Title
The impact of repetition mechanics on the adaptations resulting from strength-, hypertrophy- and cluster-type resistance training
Authors
G. Nicholson
T. Ispoglou
A. Bissas
Publication date
01-10-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 10/2016
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3439-2

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