Comparison between concentric-only, eccentric-only, and concentric-eccentric resistance training of the elbow flexors for their effects on muscle strength and hypertrophy

Shigeru Sato; Riku Yoshida; Fu Murakoshi; Yuto Sasaki; Kaoru Yahata; Kazuki Kasahara; João Pedro Nunes; Kazunori Nosaka; Masatoshi Nakamura

doi:10.1007/s00421-022-05035-w

Comparison between concentric-only, eccentric-only, and concentric-eccentric resistance training of the elbow flexors for their effects on muscle strength and hypertrophy

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022 Dec;122(12):2607-2614. doi: 10.1007/s00421-022-05035-w. Epub 2022 Sep 15.

Authors

Shigeru Sato^{1

2}, Riku Yoshida¹, Fu Murakoshi³, Yuto Sasaki³, Kaoru Yahata¹, Kazuki Kasahara³, João Pedro Nunes⁴, Kazunori Nosaka⁵, Masatoshi Nakamura⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.
² Department of Rehabilitation, Matsumura General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan.
³ Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.
⁴ Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, Physical Education and Sport Center, Londrina State University, Londrina, Brazil.
⁵ Centre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
⁶ Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishi Kyushu University, 4490-9 Ozaki, Kanzaki, Saga, 842-8585, Japan. nakamuramas@nisikyu-u.ac.jp.

PMID: 36107233
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-05035-w

Abstract

Purpose: This study compared concentric-eccentric coupled (CON-ECC), concentric-only (CON), and eccentric-only (ECC) resistance training of the elbow flexors for their effects on muscle strength and hypertrophy.

Methods: Non-resistance-trained young adults were assigned to one of the four groups: CON-ECC (n = 14), CON (n = 14) and ECC (n = 14) training groups, and a control group (n = 11) that had measurements only. The training group participants performed dominant arm elbow flexor resistance training in extended elbow joint angles (0°-50°) twice a week for 5 weeks. The total training volume (dumbbell weight × number of contractions) in CON-ECC (5745 ± 1020 kg) was double of that in CON (2930 ± 859 kg) and ECC (3035 ± 844 kg), because 3 sets of 10 contractions were performed for both directions in CON-ECC. Maximum voluntary isometric (MVC-ISO), concentric (MVC-CON), and eccentric contraction (MVC-ECC) torque of the elbow flexors and biceps brachii and brachialis muscle thickness (MT) were measured at baseline, and 3-9 days post-last training session.

Results: No significant changes in any measures were evident for the control group. The CON-ECC and ECC groups showed increases (P < 0.05) in MVC-ISO (12.0 ± 15.7% and 11.3 ± 10.8%, respectively) and MVC-ECC torque (12.5 ± 18.3%, 16.2 ± 11.0%) similarly. Increases in MVC-CON torque (P < 0.05) were evident for the CON-ECC (17.5 ± 13.5%), CON (10.5 ± 12.8%), and ECC (14.2 ± 10.4%) groups without a significant difference among groups. MT increased (P < 0.01) after CON-ECC (10.6 ± 5.4%) and ECC (9.7 ± 7.2%) similarly, but not significantly after CON (2.5 ± 4.8%).

Conclusions: ECC training increased muscle strength and thickness similarly to CON-ECC training, despite the half training volume, suggesting that concentric contractions contributed little to the training effects.

Keywords: Concentric contraction; Eccentric contraction; Maximum voluntary contraction torque; Muscle hypertrophy; Range of motion.

MeSH terms

Elbow / physiology
Humans
Hypertrophy
Isometric Contraction
Muscle Strength / physiology
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Resistance Training*
Young Adult