Chronic resistance training: is it time to rethink the time course of neural contributions to strength gain?

Pearcey, Gregory E. P.; Alizedah, S; Power, Kevin E.; Button, Duane C.

doi:10.1007/s00421-021-04730-4

Cited by 44 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 52 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, recent evidence suggests that increases in sarcomere length, rather than sarcomere number, may explain the increase in L f observed following 3 weeks' eccentric resistance training(Pincheira et al 2021). Thus, as sarcomeres were not measured in the present study, further work is required to investigate the mechanisms underpinning the increases in VL L f elicited by short-term DR training.Strength improvements observed after a period of resistance training are also partly underpinned by adaptations of the central nervous system (for recent reviewsHortobágyi et al 2021;Aagaard et al 2020;Siddique et al 2020;Pearcey et al 2021; Skarabot et al 2021). In the present study, VL EMG RMS but not VA or VL EMG RMS/M max during MVT ISO increased significantly after 4 weeks' DR training.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The time course of different neuromuscular adaptations to short-term downhill running training and their specific relationships with strength gains

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Due to its eccentric nature, downhill running (DR) training has been suggested to promote strength gains through neuromuscular adaptations. However, it is unknown whether short-term chronic DR can elicit such adaptations. Methods Twelve untrained, young, healthy adults (5 women, 7 men) took part in 4 weeks’ DR, comprising 10 sessions, with running speed equivalent to 60–65% maximal oxygen uptake ($$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2max, assessed at weeks 0 and 4). Isometric and isokinetic knee-extensor maximal voluntary torque (MVT), vastus lateralis (VL) muscle morphology/architecture (anatomical cross-sectional area, ACSA; physiological CSA, PCSA; volume; fascicle length, Lf; pennation angle, PA) and neuromuscular activation (VL EMG) were assessed at weeks 0, 2 and 4. Results MVT increased by 9.7–15.2% after 4 weeks (p < 0.01). VL EMG during isometric MVT increased by 35.6 ± 46.1% after 4 weeks (p < 0.05) and correlated with changes in isometric MVT after 2 weeks (r = 0.86, p = 0.001). VL ACSA (+2.9 ± 2.7% and +7.1 ± 3.5%) and volume (+2.5 ± 2.5% and +6.6 ± 3.2%) increased after 2 and 4 weeks, respectively (p < 0.05). PCSA (+3.8 ± 3.3%), PA (+5.8 ± 3.8%) and Lf (+2.7 ± 2.2%) increased after 4 weeks (p < 0.01). Changes in VL volume (r = 0.67, p = 0.03) and PCSA (r = 0.71, p = 0.01) correlated with changes in concentric MVT from 2 to 4 weeks. $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2max (49.4 ± 6.2 vs. 49.7 ± 6.3 mL·kg−1·min−1) did not change after 4 weeks (p = 0.73). Conclusion Just 4 weeks’ moderate-intensity DR promoted neuromuscular adaptations in young, healthy adults, typically observed after high-intensity eccentric resistance training. Neural adaptations appeared to contribute to most of the strength gains at 2 and 4 weeks, while muscle hypertrophy seemed to contribute to MVT changes from 2 to 4 weeks only.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The time course of different neuromuscular adaptations to short-term downhill running training and their specific relationships with strength gains

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The intervention protocols varied considerably in length, where strength and performance gains could be attributed to different factors. The increases observed for shorter intervention durations were likely due to neurological adaptations such as increased motor unit recruitment and neural drive to the working muscles, whereas longer intervention durations likely elicited strength gains from both central and peripheral adaptations [56,57]. As muscle volume was not measured in the examined studies, the noted strength gains could have resulted from a combination of factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Efficacy of Upper-Extremity Elastic Resistance Training on Shoulder Strength and Performance: A Systematic Review

Seguin

Cudlip

Holmes

2022

Sports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Elastic resistance exercise is a popular mode of strength training that has demonstrated positive effects on whole-body strength and performance. The purpose of this work was to identify the efficacy of elastic resistance training on improving upper limb strength and performance measures for the shoulder. Seven online databases were searched with a focus on longitudinal studies assessing shoulder elastic training strength interventions. In total, 1367 studies were initially screened for relevancy; 24 full-text articles were included for review. Exercise interventions ranged from 4-12 weeks, assessing pre-/post-strength and performance measures inclusive of isometric and isokinetic strength, 1RM strength, force-velocity tests, and throwing-velocity tests. Significant increases in various isometric strength measures (IR:11–13%, ER:11–42%, FL: 14–36%, EXT: 4–17%, ABD: 8–16%), 1RM strength (~24% in bench press), force-velocities, throwing- and serve-velocities (12%) were all observed. Elastic resistance training elicited positive effects for both strength and performance parameters regardless of intervention duration. Similar significant increases were observed in isometric strength and 1RM strength across durations. Isokinetic strength increases were variable and dependent on the joint velocity conditions. Quantifying the dosage of appropriate exercise prescription for optimal strength and performance gains is inconclusive with this study due to the heterogeneity of the intervention protocols.

show abstract

“…Resistance training (RT) involves resisted movements with the overall goal to increase an individual’s strength. Numerous muscular and neurophysiological effects can be seen in the target muscles, such as, an increase in muscle volume and physiological cross-sectional area ( Maden-Wilkinson et al, 2020 ) and neural adaptations ( Gabriel et al, 2001 , 2006 ; Škarabot et al, 2019 ; Aagaard et al, 2020 ; Hortobágyi et al, 2021 ; Pearcey et al, 2021 ). The increase in strength in response to RT occurs before morphological changes such as hypertrophy (i.e., muscle size increase) are measurable ( Akima et al, 1999 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent systematic review suggests that plastic changes at different levels of central nervous system such as, decreased activity of inhibitory networks in the primary motor cortex ( Kidgell et al, 2017 ), increased corticospinal axon excitability at the spinal level ( Mason et al, 2019 ) and changes in motor unit activation ( Siddique et al, 2020 ) are responsible for early changes in strength output ( Siddique et al, 2020 ). Additionally, skeletal muscle protein adaptations have been shown to occur within the first 2–4 weeks of resistance training ( Staron et al, 1994 ) as recently discussed by Pearcey et al (2021) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Resistance Training on Motor Unit Firing Properties: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While neural changes are thought to be responsible for early increases in strength following resistance training (RT), the exact changes in motor unit (MU) firing properties remain unclear. This review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the effect of RT on MU firing properties. MEDLINE (OVID interface), EMBASE (OVID interface), Web of Science (all databases), Cochrane Library, EBSCO CINAHL Plus, PubMed, and EBSCO SportDiscus were searched from inception until June 2021. Randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of interventions that compared RT to no intervention (control) were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data from each trial, assessed the risk of bias and rated the cumulative quality of evidence. Motor unit discharge rate (MUDR), motor unit recruitment threshold (MURT), motor unit discharge rate variability (MUDRV), MU discharge rate at recruitment vs. recruitment threshold relationship, and MU discharge rate vs. recruitment threshold relationship were assessed. Seven trials including 167 participants met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis (four studies) revealed that MUDR did not change significantly (P = 0.43), but with considerable heterogeneity likely to be present (I2 = 91). Low to moderate evidence supports changes in MUDRV, MUDR at recruitment vs. recruitment threshold relationship, and the MUDR vs. recruitment threshold relationship. Overall, this systematic review revealed that there is a lack of high-quality evidence for the effect of RT on MU firing properties. Heterogeneity across studies undermines the quality of the evidence for multiple outcomes and affects the conclusions that can be drawn.

show abstract

Chronic resistance training: is it time to rethink the time course of neural contributions to strength gain?

Cited by 44 publications

References 52 publications

The time course of different neuromuscular adaptations to short-term downhill running training and their specific relationships with strength gains

The time course of different neuromuscular adaptations to short-term downhill running training and their specific relationships with strength gains

The Efficacy of Upper-Extremity Elastic Resistance Training on Shoulder Strength and Performance: A Systematic Review

The Effect of Resistance Training on Motor Unit Firing Properties: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About