Neural adaptations after 4 years vs 12 weeks of resistance training vs untrained
Open accessAbstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of resistance training (RT) duration, including years of exposure, on agonist and antagonist neuromuscular activation throughout the knee extension voluntary torque range. Fifty‐seven healthy men (untrained [UNT] n = 29, short‐term RT [12WK] n = 14, and long‐term RT [4YR] n = 14) performed maximum and sub‐maximum (20%‐80% maximum voluntary torque [MVT]) unilateral isometric knee extension contractions with torque, agonist and antagonist surface EMG recorded. Agonist EMG, including at MVT, was corrected for the confounding effects of adiposity (ie, muscle‐electrode distance; measured with ultrasonography). Quadriceps maximum anatomical cross‐sectional area (QACSA MAX; via MRI) was also assessed. MVT was distinct for all three groups (4YR +60/+39% vs UNT/12WK; 12WK +15% vs UNT; 0.001 < P ≤ 0.021), and QACSA MAX was greater for 4YR (+50/+42% vs UNT/12WK; [both] P < 0.001). Agonist EMG at MVT was +44/+33% greater for 4YR /12WK ([both] P < 0.001) vs. UNT, but did not differ between RT groups. The torque‐agonist EMG relationship of 4YR displayed a right/down shift with lower agonist EMG at the highest common torque (196 Nm) compared to 12WK and UNT (0.005 ≤ P ≤ 0.013; Effect size [ES] 0.90 ≤ ES ≤ 1.28). The torque‐antagonist EMG relationship displayed a lower slope with increasing RT duration (4YR < 12WK < UNT; 0.001 < P ≤ 0.094; 0.56 ≤ ES ≤ 1.31), and antagonist EMG at the highest common torque was also lower for 4YR than UNT (−69%; P < 0.001; ES = 1.18). In conclusion, 4YR and 12WK had similar agonist activation at MVT and this adaptation may be maximized during early months of RT. In contrast, inter‐muscular coordination, specifically antagonist coactivation was progressively lower, and likely continues to adapt, with prolonged RT.
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The importance of the nervous system, e.g. muscle agonist activation and antagonist co-activation, for muscle strength must be acknowledged.
“the importance of the nervous system, e.g. muscle agonist activation (recruitment and firing frequency) and antagonist co-activation, for muscle strength must be acknowledged [104].”
From Transgender Women in the Female Category of Sport: Perspectives on Testosterone Suppression and Performance Advantage (2021) · cites this paper as [104]
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“muscle agonist activation (recruitment and firing frequency) and antagonist co-activation, for muscle strength must be acknowledged [104].”
Background
- Authors
- Balshaw, T. G., Massey, G. J., Maden‐Wilkinson, T. M., Lanza, M. B., & Folland, J. P.
- Affiliations
- Loughborough University (GB)
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences Loughborough University Leicestershire UK
- Corresponding author
- Balshaw, Thomas G.
- Venue
- Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-12-09
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 348-359
- ISSN
- 0905-7188 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0838
- OpenAlex
- W2899293721
- Semantic Scholar
- 5dcbbf6bee7a2835c3420986aab0c421561883dc
- Cited by
- 70
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 2.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- dspace.lboro.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- SHURA (Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive) (Sheffield Hallam University) (acceptedVersion)
- Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Loughborough University Research Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Arthritis Research UK
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- resistance training, training duration, neuromuscular activation, agonist activation, knee extension, surface electromyography, quadriceps cross-sectional area, muscle fatigue, muscle hypertrophy, untrained men, isometric contraction, ultrasonography
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Physiological, Adult, Electromyography, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Knee, Male, Time Factors, Torque, Quadriceps Muscle, Resistance Training, Young Adult
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