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Stepwise Load Reduction Training: A New Training Concept for Skeletal Muscle and Energy Systems

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A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 05 March 2022

A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 05 March 2022

Abstract

An increased ability to supply energy to skeletal muscle is expected to contribute to greater athletic performance, and therefore, a variety of training methods are used for improving these energy supply systems. These methods are classified into two broad categories: a bout of continuous exercise at a given load/intensity and intermittent bouts of exercise at a given load/intensity with recovery intervals. Interestingly, recent work suggests that a training method which starts at a high load/intensity and gradually decreases the exercise load/intensity within a given training set (stepwise load reduction training) may provide a range of adaptations. In resistance training, the load starts off high and is then reduced as the set continues which is expected to simultaneously increase muscle strength, endurance, and size. In training focused on aerobic and anaerobic metabolic systems, intensity starts off high and is then reduced as the exercise continues which is expected to simultaneously increase maximal anaerobic power, anaerobic capacity, and aerobic capacity. Because stepwise load reduction training has no recovery intervals between each load/intensity, the training effects are achieved within a short time per session (several minutes). However, only minimal evidence exists to support the effects of stepwise load reduction training; therefore, further studies with larger samples are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sport and Health Science, Tokai Gakuen University, 21-233 Nishinohora, Ukigai, Miyoshi, Aichi, Japan

    Hayao Ozaki

  2. Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA

    Takashi Abe & Jeremy P. Loenneke

  3. Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai, Chiba, Japan

    Shizuo Katamoto

Authors
  1. Hayao Ozaki
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  2. Takashi Abe
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  3. Jeremy P. Loenneke
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  4. Shizuo Katamoto
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Correspondence to Hayao Ozaki.

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Conflict of Interest

Hayao Ozaki, Takashi Abe, Jeremy Loenneke and Shizuo Katamoto declare that they have no conflict of interest that are relevant to the content of this article.

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No external sources of funding were used in the preparation of this article.

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Author Contributions

HO wrote the first draft of the manuscript. TA, JL and SK revised the original manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Ozaki, H., Abe, T., Loenneke, J.P. et al. Stepwise Load Reduction Training: A New Training Concept for Skeletal Muscle and Energy Systems. Sports Med 50, 2075–2081 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01341-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01341-5

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