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Muscle activation during low- versus high-load resistance training in well-trained men

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

It has been hypothesized that lifting light loads to muscular failure will activate the full spectrum of MUs and thus bring about muscular adaptations similar to high-load training. The purpose of this study was to investigate EMG activity during low- versus high-load training during performance of a multi-joint exercise by well-trained subjects.

Methods

Employing a within-subject design, 10 young, resistance-trained men performed sets of the leg press at different intensities of load: a high-load (HL) set at 75 % of 1-RM and a low-load (LL) set at 30 % of 1-RM. The order of performance of the exercises was counterbalanced between participants, so that half of the subjects performed LL first and the other half performed HL first, separated by 15 min rest. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to assess mean and peak muscle activation of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris.

Results

Significant main effects for trials and muscles were found (p < 0.01). Significantly greater peak EMG activity was found during the HL set (M = 177.3, SD = 89.53) compared to the LL set (M = 137.73, SD = 95.35). Significantly greater mean EMG activity was found during the HL set (M = 63.7, SD = 37.23) compared to the LL set (M = 41.63, SD = 28.03).

Conclusions

Results indicate that training with a load of 30 % 1-RM to momentary muscular failure does not maximally activate the full motor unit pool of the quadriceps femoris and hamstrings during performance of multi-joint lower body exercise.

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Abbreviations

MPS:

Muscle protein synthesis

RM:

Repetition maximum

MU:

Motor unit

EMG:

Electromyography

RF:

Rectus femoris

VL:

Vastus lateralis

VM:

Vastus medialis

BF:

Biceps femoris

MVIC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Robert Harris and Gabriel Irizarry for their indispensible roles as research assistants in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, Program of Exercise Science, CUNY Lehman College, Bronx, NY, USA

    Brad J. Schoenfeld & Gul Tiryaki-Sonmez

  2. Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand

    Bret Contreras

  3. Kinesiology and Sports Studies Department, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, USA

    Jeffrey M. Willardson

  4. School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, USA

    Fabio Fontana

Authors
  1. Brad J. Schoenfeld
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  2. Bret Contreras
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  3. Jeffrey M. Willardson
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  4. Fabio Fontana
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  5. Gul Tiryaki-Sonmez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brad J. Schoenfeld.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Schoenfeld, B.J., Contreras, B., Willardson, J.M. et al. Muscle activation during low- versus high-load resistance training in well-trained men. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 2491–2497 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2976-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2976-9

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