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Cited by 161Sports Performance and TrainingCardiovascular and exercise physiologyMuscle metabolism and nutrition

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 24 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Fatigue is not a necessary stimulus for strength gains during resistance training

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Folland, J P, Irish, C S, Roberts, J C, Tarr, J E, Jones, D A·2002·British Journal of Sports Medicine
DOI 10.1136/bjsm.36.5.370PMC PMC1724546
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Abstract

Background: High resistance training enhances muscular strength, and recent work has suggested an important role for metabolite accumulation in this process. Objective: To investigate the role of fatigue and metabolite accumulation in strength gains by comparing highly fatiguing and non-fatiguing isotonic training protocols. Methods: Twenty three healthy adults (18–29 years of age; eight women) were assigned to either a high fatigue protocol (HF: four sets of 10 repetitions with 30 seconds rest between sets) to maximise metabolic stress or a low fatigue protocol (LF: 40 repetitions with 30 seconds between each repetition) to minimise changes. Subjects lifted on average 73% of their 1 repetition maximum through the full range of knee extension with both legs, three times a week. Quadriceps isometric strength of each leg was measured at a knee joint angle of 1.57 rad (90°), and a Cybex 340 isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure the angle-torque and torque-velocity relations of the non-dominant leg. Results: At the mid-point of the training, the HF group had 50% greater gains in isometric strength, although this was not significant (4.5 weeks: HF, 13.3 (4.4)%; LF, 8.9 (3.6)%). This rate of increase was not sustained by the HF group, and after nine weeks of training all the strength measurements showed similar improvements for both groups (isometric strength: HF, 18.2 (3.9)%; LF, 14.5 (4.0)%). The strength gains were limited to the longer muscle lengths despite training over the full range of movement. Conclusions: Fatigue and metabolite accumulation do not appear to be critical stimuli for strength gain, and resistance training can be effective without the severe discomfort and acute physical effort associated with fatiguing contractions.

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. 1981, Exerc Sport Sci Rev, 9, 1
  2. 1996, Med Sci Sports Exerc, 28, S191
  3. 1994, Med Sci Sports Exerc, 26, 1160
  4. 1998, Eur J Appl Physiol, 77, 189
  5. 1998, J Physiol (Lond), 506, 102
  6. 10.1017/S0958067000020571 · DOI · Paper page

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Metadata

Authors
Folland, J. P., Irish, C. S., Roberts, J. C., Tarr, J. E., & Jones, D. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Brighton (GB)
  • University of Birmingham (GB)
Corresponding author
Folland, J P
ORCID
Venue
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2002-10
Volume
36
Issue
5
Pages
370-373
ISSN
  • 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
  • 1473-0480
DOI
10.1136/bjsm.36.5.370
PMC
PMC1724546
OpenAlex
W2097151115
Cited by
161
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
FWCI
2.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • e-space (Manchester Metropolitan University) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
Keywords
resistance training, training fatigue, metabolite accumulation, metabolic stress, knee extension, quadriceps strength, isometric strength, torque-velocity relationship, training stimulus
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Male, Physical Education and Training, Physical Endurance, Weight Lifting, Program Evaluation, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fatigue

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