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Resistance-training exercises with different stability requirements: time course of task specificity

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to assess the task-specificity (greater improvements in trained compared to non-trained tasks), transferability and time-course adaptations of resistance-training programs with varying instability requirements.

Method

Thirty-six resistance-trained men were randomized to train chest press 2 days week−1 for 10 week (6 repetitions × 4 series) using a Swiss ball, Smith machine or dumbbells. A six-repetition maximum-strength test with the aforementioned exercises and traditional barbell chest press were performed by all participants at the first, 7th, 14th and final training session in addition to electromyographic activities of the prime movers measured during isometric bench press.

Results

The groups training with the unstable Swiss-ball and dumbbells, but not the stable Smith-machine, demonstrated task-specificity, which became apparent in the early phase and remained throughout the study. The improvements in the trained exercise tended to increase more with instability (dumbbells vs. Smith machine, p = 0.061). The group training with Smith machine had similar improvements in the non-trained exercises. Greater improvements were observed in the early phase of the strength-training program (first-7th session) for all groups in all three exercises, but most notably for the unstable exercises. No differences were observed between the groups or testing times for EMG activity.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that among resistance-trained individuals, the concept of task-specificity could be most relevant in resistance training with greater stability requirements, particularly due to rapid strength improvements for unstable resistance exercises.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BP:

Bench press

DB:

Dumbbell

EMG:

Electromyography

MVC:

Maximum voluntary contraction

RMS:

Root-mean square

RT:

Resistance training

SB:

Swiss ball

SM:

Smith machine

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Acknowledgments

We thank the participants for their enthusiastic participation in addition to Alexander Olsen and Eirik Nordgård Strupstad for their participation in collecting data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Teacher Education and Sport, Sogn og Fjordane University College, PB 133, 6851, Sogndal, Norway

    Atle Hole Saeterbakken, Vidar Andersen, Espen Krogseth Krohn-Hansen & Mats Smaamo

  2. School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NF, Canada

    David G. Behm

  3. Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Marius Steiro Fimland

  4. Hysnes Rehabilitation Center, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

    Marius Steiro Fimland

Authors
  1. Atle Hole Saeterbakken
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  2. Vidar Andersen
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  3. David G. Behm
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  4. Espen Krogseth Krohn-Hansen
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  5. Mats Smaamo
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  6. Marius Steiro Fimland
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Atle Hole Saeterbakken.

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Conflict of interest

This study was conducted without any funding from companies or manufacturers or outside organizations. There are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Saeterbakken, A.H., Andersen, V., Behm, D.G. et al. Resistance-training exercises with different stability requirements: time course of task specificity. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 2247–2256 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3470-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3470-3

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