The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 12 weeks of muscle power training using one- and three-sets on neuromuscular adaptations in elderly women. Twenty six healthy elderly women were randomly assigned into two groups: one-set (n = 13) and three-sets (n = 13). Maximal dynamic and isometric strength, rapid force assessed as absolute and normalized rate of force development (RTD) and contractile impulse during unilateral leg knee extension at 0-50 and 0-200 ms, overall quadriceps muscle thickness, muscle power during a countermovement jump (CMJ), and functional performance using time-up-and-go and the timed stair climb tests were evaluated before and after training. After 12 weeks, one-set and three-sets groups exhibited significant (p ≤ 0.05) and comparable increases in dynamic and isometric strength, absolute RTD and contractile impulse at 0-50 and at 0-200 ms and in the performance of both functional tests. No significant differences between groups were evident for any measured parameters (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the normalized RTD did not increase for any group (p > 0.05). Over 12 weeks, the muscle power training performing one- or three-sets induced alike improvements in muscle function, mass and functionally. These evidences suggest that a low training volume is able to induce significant improvements in age-related neuromuscular changes.
Keywords: Aging; Muscle power; One-set; Three-sets; Training volume.
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