Neuromuscular Responses to 14 Weeks of Traditional and Daily Undulating Resistance Training
Abstract
This study compared traditional (TP) and daily undulating (DUP) periodization on muscle strength, EMG-estimated neural drive and muscle architecture of the quadriceps femoris (QF). 10 non-athletic females (24.4±3.2 years) performed 14 weeks of isometric training for the QF exercising 1 leg using TP and the contralateral leg using DUP. Intensities varied from 60% to 80% of MVC and the intensity zones and training volume were equated for each leg. Knee extension MVC, maximal voluntary QF-EMG activity and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle architecture were measured in both legs before, after 6 weeks and after 14 weeks of training using dynamometry, surface EMG and ultrasonography. Isometric MVC and maximal QF-EMG remained unaltered after 6 weeks of training, but were significantly (P<0.05) enhanced after 14 weeks in both legs (MVC: TP 24%, DUP 23%; QF-EMG: TP 45%, DUP 46%). VL-architecture remained unchanged following 6 weeks of training, but VL-muscle thickness (TP 17%, DUP 16%) and fascicle length (TP 16%, DUP 17%) displayed significant (P<0.05) enlargements after 14 weeks in both legs. Importantly, these temporal neuromuscular alterations displayed no significant differences between the training legs. Therefore, periodization may not act as a key trigger for neuromuscular adaptations.
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In addition to morphological changes in the muscle, joint mechanical properties such as PTMA may make a small contribution to maximal torque production.
“In addition to morphological changes in the muscle, joint mechanical properties such as PTMA may make a small contribution to maximal torque production (17, 77).”
From What makes long-term resistance-trained individuals so strong? A comparison of skeletal muscle morphology, architecture, and joint mechanics (2020) · cites this paper as [77]
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“2015; Sampson and Groeller 2016) or during a maximal isometric contraction (Aagaard et al. 2002; Ullrich et al. 2015), along with an increase in muscle strength after different RT programs.”
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“665 666 The possibility of FL increases after RT, largely based on short-term RT studies, has been 667 controversial (7, 16, 26, 29, 30, 64, 78, 82).”
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Periodization: Variation in the Definition and Discrepancies in Study Design
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“Furthermore, the literature currently does not provide a scientific model comparing the mechano-biological signal transduction between TP and DUP periodized exercise stimuli (43,46).”
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“of data on the effects of different periodization and NP regimens on muscle mass accrual, the alleged benefits of periodized training on muscle hypertrophy have been recently challenged (8,15,16,21,22,26).”
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“In line with previous work (26), Ullrich et al. (2015) have recently reported that 14 weeks of isometric knee extensor training with TP and daily undulating periodization (DUP) yielded similar temporal alterations in muscle architecture, neural drive, and maximum strength in recreationally active…”
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“However, the current body of literature fails to provide evidence for the superiority of a certain periodization model in enhancing maximum strength and power output in subjects with advanced training level (Harries et al., 2015; Hartmann et al., 2015; Ullrich et al., 2015, 2016).”
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Variation in strength training load, so much to prove
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- Authors
- Ullrich, B., Holzinger, S., Soleimani, M., Pelzer, T., Stening, J., & Pfeiffer, M.
- Affiliations
- Department of Biomechanics and Training Science, Olympic Training and Testing Center Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland, Bad Kreuznach, Germany
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
- Diakonie Deutschland (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Ullrich, B.
- Venue
- International Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2015-03-11
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 07
- Pages
- 554-562
- ISSN
- 0172-4622 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-3964
- OpenAlex
- W2315457934
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 3.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- undulating periodization, resistance training, neuromuscular adaptation, muscle strength, quadriceps, vastus lateralis, muscle architecture, fascicle length, muscle thickness, isometric training, knee extension, training volume
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Electromyography, Female, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Knee Joint, Quadriceps Muscle, Muscle Strength, Muscle Strength Dynamometer, Resistance Training, Young Adult
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