Resistance training leading to repetition failure increases muscle strength and size, but not power-generation capacity in judo athletes

Nakatani M, Takai Y, Kanehisa H. Resistance training leading to repetition failure increases muscle strength and size, but not power-generation capacity in judo athletes. PLoS One. 2024 Aug 28;19(8):e0307841. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307841.

ABSTRACT

Strength-trained athletes has less trainability in muscle size and function, because of their adaptation to long-term advanced training. This study examined whether resistance training (RT) leading to repetition failure can be effective modality to overcome this subject. Twenty-three male judo athletes completed a 6-week unilateral dumbbell curl training with two sessions per week, being added to in-season training of judo. The participants were assigned to one of three different training programs: ballistic light-load (30% of one repetition maximum (1RM)) RT to repetition failure (RF_LB) (n = 6), traditional heavy-load (80% of 1RM) RT to repetition failure (RF_HT) (n = 7), and ballistic light-load (30% of 1RM) RT to non-repetition failure (NRF_LB) (n = 10). Before and after the intervention period, the muscle thickness (MT) and the maximal voluntary isometric force (MVC) and rate of force development (RFD_max) of elbow flexors were determined. In addition, theoretical maximum force (F₀), velocity (V₀), power (P_max), and slope were calculated from force-velocity relation during explosive elbow flexion against six different loads. For statistical analysis, p < 0.05 was considered significant. The MT and MVC had significant effect of time with greater magnitude of the gains in RF_HT and NRF_LB compared to RF_LB. On the other hand, all parameters derived from force-velocity relation and RFD_max did not show significant effects of time. The present study indicates that ballistic light-load and traditional heavy-load resistance training programs, leading to non-repetition failure and repetition failure, respectively, can be modalities for improving muscle size and isometric strength in judo athletes, but these do not improve power generation capacity.

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