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Cited by 48Muscle metabolism and nutritionSports Performance and TrainingExercise and Physiological Responses

Molecular, neuromuscular, and recovery responses to light versus heavy resistance exercise in young men

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Haun, Cody T., Mumford, Petey W., Roberson, Paul A., Romero, Matthew A., Mobley, Christopher B., Kephart, Wesley C., Anderson, Richard G., Colquhoun, Ryan J. +9 more·2017·Physiological Reports
DOI 10.14814/phy2.13457PMC PMC5617935
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Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that resistance training with light or heavy loads to failure results in similar adaptations. Herein, we compared how both training modalities affect the molecular, neuromuscular, and recovery responses following exercise. Resistance-trained males (mean ± SE: 22 ± 2 years, 84.8 ± 9.0 kg, 1.79 ± 0.06 m; n = 15) performed a crossover design of four sets of leg extensor exercise at 30% (light RE) or 80% (heavy RE) one repetition maximum (1RM) to repetition failure, and heavy RE or light RE 1 week later. Surface electromyography (EMG) was monitored during exercise, and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected at baseline (PRE), 15 min (15mPOST), and 90 min following RE (90mPOST) for examination of molecular targets and fiber typing. Isokinetic dynamometry was also performed before (PRE), immediately after (POST), and 48 h after (48hPOST) exercise. Dependent variables were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVAs and significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Repetitions completed were greater during light RE (P < 0.01), while EMG amplitude was greater during heavy RE (P ≤ 0.01). POST isokinetic torque was reduced following light versus heavy RE (P < 0.05). Postexercise expression of mRNAs and phosphoproteins associated with muscle hypertrophy were similar between load conditions. Additionally, p70s6k (Thr389) phosphorylation and fast-twitch fiber proportion exhibited a strong relationship after both light and heavy RE (r > 0.5). While similar mRNA and phosphoprotein responses to both modalities occurred, we posit that heavy RE is a more time-efficient training method given the differences in total repetitions completed, lower EMG amplitude during light RE, and impaired recovery response after light RE.

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Authors
Haun, C. T., Mumford, P. W., Roberson, P. A., Romero, M. A., Mobley, C. B., Kephart, W. C., Anderson, R. G., Colquhoun, R. J., Muddle, T. W. D., Luera, M. J., Mackey, C. S., Pascoe, D. D., Young, K. C., Martin, J. S., DeFreitas, J. M., Jenkins, N. D. M., & Roberts, M. D.
Affiliations
  • Auburn University (US)
  • Oklahoma State University (US)
Corresponding author
Roberts, Michael D.
ORCID
Venue
Physiological Reports
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-09
Volume
5
Issue
18
Pages
e13457
ISSN
2051-817X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.14814/phy2.13457
PMC
PMC5617935
OpenAlex
W2756511259
Cited by
48
References
14
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3
FWCI
2.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Physiological Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • FutureCeuticals Inc.
  • Maximum Human Performance
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
resistance training, training to failure, neuromuscular fatigue, post-exercise recovery, muscle hypertrophy, p70S6K phosphorylation, vastus lateralis, isokinetic torque, electromyography, phosphoproteins
MeSH terms
Humans, Male, Muscle Contraction, RNA, Messenger, Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa, Quadriceps Muscle, Resistance Training, Young Adult

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