Acute Dose-Response of Duration During the Isometric Forearm Plank Exercise on Muscle Thickness, Echo-Intensity, Peak Force, and Perception of Effort in Recreationally-Trained Participants.

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of different durations of the isometric forearm plank exercise (IFPE) on peak force, echo intensity, muscle thickness, and perception of effort in recreationally-trained participants. Fifteen resistance-trained participants (23±3years, 76.4±6.5kg, 173.3±6.5cm) performed the IFPE with bodyweight in one of three durations in a randomized order: a). 1-min, b). 2-min, and c). 3-min. Muscle thickness (MT), echo intensity (EI), peak force (PF), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured pre-test and post-test. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs (2×3) were used to test differences between tests (pre-test and post-test) and treatment (1-min, 2-min, and 3-min) for PF, MT, and EI. One-way ANOVA was used to compare RPE between treatments (1-min, 2-min, and 3- min). There was a significant increase between pre- and post-test only for 3-min IFPE (p=0.008). For EI, there was a significant increase between pre- and post-test only for 3-min IFPE (p<0.001). For PF, there were observed significant reductions on post-test between 1-min vs. 3-min (p<0.001) and 2-min vs. 3-min IFPE (p<0.001). For RPE, there were statistical differences between 1-min vs. 2-min (p<0.001), 1-min and 3-min (p<0.001), 2-min and 3-min (p=0.001). In conclusion, only 3-min IFPE induced an increase in MT and EI and a reduction in PF when compared to 1-min and 2-min (during the post-test). RPE increased with the increase in the duration of the IFPE.

Exercise Variability Did Not Affect Muscle Thickness and Peak Force for Elbow Flexors After a Resistance Training Session in Recreationally-Trained Subjects.

The purpose of this study is to measure the acute effects of exercise variability on muscle thickness and physical performance after two resistance training (RT) protocols using the same or different exercises in recreationally-trained subjects. Fifteen resistance-trained men (23.1 ± 2.6 years, 83.4 ± 16.6 kg, 173.5 ± 8.3cm) performed one of two RT protocols: SINGLE: six sets of 10RM/two-minutes rest of the unilateral biceps curl exercise using cables or MIX: six sets of 10RM/two-minutes rest for the unilateral biceps curl exercises (cable: three sets and dumbbells: three sets, randomly). Muscle thickness (MT) and peak force (PF) were measured ten-minutes before (control), pre-RT session, and post-RT (immediately after and 15-minutes after). All acute RT variables were measured during both RT protocols: the maximal number of repetitions (MNR), the total number of repetitions (TNR), time under tension (TUT), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Two-way ANOVA (2 x 4) was used to test differences between RT protocol (SINGLE and MIX) and time (control, pre-test, post0, and post15) for MT and PF. Two-way ANOVAs (2 x 6) were used to test differences between RT protocol (SINGLE and MIX) and sets for MNR, RPEset, and TUT. For PF and MT, there were significant differences in time for both RT protocols (p < 0.05), however, there were not statistical differences between RT protocols. For MNR, RPEset, and TUT, there were significant differences in time (p < 0.05), however, there were not statistical differences between RT protocols. In conclusion, both RT protocols induced a similar increase in MT for elbow flexors and a reduction in peak force.

Different Barbell Height Positions Affect Maximal Isometric Deadlift Force and Subsequent Squat Jump Performance in Recreationally-Trained Men.

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the effect of two different deadlift barbell height positions on maximal isometric force and subsequent maximal squat jump performance in recreationally-trained men. Fifteen young, healthy, recreationally-trained men (age: 24.7 ± 3.5years, height: 177.1 ± 7.9cm, and total body mass: 81.2 ± 9.8kg) volunteered to participate. All participants performed maximal squat jumps (MSJ) at 90° of knee flexion before (pre-test) and after 4-min (post-test) performing the deadlift exercise using maximal isometric force (MIF) and MIF normalized by body mass (ratioMIF) in two barbell height positions (25% and 75% of the lower limb height, LLH) in a randomized and counterbalanced order. A paired-sample t-test was used to test differences in MIF and ratioMIF between 25% LLH and 75% LLH. Two-way ANOVAs were used for positions (25% LLH and 75% LLH) and time (pre- and post-test) for all dependent variables with an alpha of 5%. Differences were found for MIF and ratioMIF during the deadlift between 25% LLH and 75% LLH (p < 0.001). There was observed an increase in impulse between pre- and post-test only at 75% LLH (p < 0.001), decrease in time to peak force between pre- and post-test only at 75% LLH (p < 0.001), and increase in peak force between pre- and post-test at 75% LLH (p = 0.029). The present results showed that the maximal isometric deadlift exercise at 75% LLH (midthigh) improves subsequent jump performance of the squat jump recreationally-trained men.

Seated row and biceps curl exercises present similar acute responses on muscle thickness, arm circumference, and peak force for elbow flexors after a resistance training session in recreationally-trained subjects.

BACKGROUND: The primary purpose of this study was to measure the acute effects on muscle thickness, arm circumference, and peak force between unilateral seated row and unilateral biceps curl exercises for elbow flexors after a RT session in recreationally-trained subjects. METHODS: Fourteen resistance-trained men (25.3±2.5years, 76.5±6.4kg, 174.6±7cm) performed 6 sets of 10RM and 2-min rest for one of two exercises (unilateral seated row exercise, USR or unilateral biceps curl, UBC). Muscle thickness (MT), arm circumference (AC), and peak force (PF) were measured before 10-min (control), pre-RT session and post-RT (immediately after, 15-min and 30-min). All acute RT variables were measured during both exercises: maximal number of repetitions (MNR), total number of repetitions (TNR), time under tension (TUT), rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Two-way ANOVAs were used to test differences between exercises and moments with an alpha of 5%. RESULTS: For PF, there was a significant difference between pre- and post-0 for UBC and USR (P<0.001). For AC, there were significant differences between pretest × post-0-min for both exercises (P<0.001). For MT, there were significant differences between pretest × post 0-min (P<0.001), pretest × post 15-min (P<0.001) for both exercises and pretest × post 30-min only for UBC (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Both exercises induced similar increases in AC and MT for elbow flexors and reduction in peak force.

Muscle Activation Differs Between Partial and Full Back Squat Exercise With External Load Equated.

Changes in range of motion affect the magnitude of the load during the squat exercise and, consequently, may influence muscle activation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate muscle activation between the partial and full back squat exercise with external load equated on a relative basis between conditions. Fifteen young, healthy, resistance-trained men (age: 26 ± 5 years, height: 173 ± 6 cm) performed a back squat at their 10 repetition maximum (10RM) using 2 different ranges of motion (partial and full) in a randomized, counterbalanced fashion. Surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activation of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus, erector spinae, soleus (SL), and gluteus maximus (GM). In general, muscle activity was highest during the partial back squat for GM (p = 0.004), BF (p = 0.009), and SL (p = 0.031) when compared with full-back squat. There was no significant difference for rating of perceived exertion between partial and full back squat exercise at 10RM (8 ± 1 and 9 ± 1, respectively). In conclusion, the range of motion in the back squat alters muscle activation of the prime mover (GM) and stabilizers (SL and BF) when performed with the load equated on a relative basis. Thus, the partial back squat maximizes the level of muscle activation of the GM and associated stabilizer muscles.