Individual Response to Different Volumes of Resistance Training

Determinants of Intra-individual Variation in Adaptability to Resistance Training of Different Volumes

The literature is not clear as to which training volume to employ during initial phases of resistance training programs to ensure optimal muscular adaptations. The purpose of this study is therefore to compare effects of strength training with low versus moderate volume on muscular function and hypertrophy in previously untrained, healthy individuals. Furthermore, the investigators will relate individual variation in responses to proxy markers of individual training state, such as baseline muscular function and muscle fiber type.

The study will include 25 women and 25 men and will consist of a 12-week resistance training protocol. Each study participant will act as their own control, performing both the low- (1-set) and the moderate-volume (3-sets) protocol, allocated to either the dominant or non-dominant leg, in a stratified and randomized fashion.

Primary outcome measures are thigh muscle cross section area and unilateral knee extension strength. Additionally, muscle fiber type composition will be evaluated as well as additional parameters of muscular function.

The primary hypothesis is that low-volume protocols will be beneficial for individuals with glycolytic muscle phenotypes, whereas the opposite will be true for individuals with more aerobic phenotypes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: 12-week progressive strength training protocol

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 42
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Lillehammer, Norway
    • Lillehammer University College

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy
• Non-smoking
• Able to tolerate resistance exercise training

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence or history of cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine or neuromuscular disease
• Diagnosed mental health disorder
• Intolerance to local anesthetic
• No experience with exercise training
• Performing regular resistance training (more than 1 session per week during last 12 months)
• Impaired strength/ neuromuscular function due to previous injury
• Recurrent pain in lower back, knee or shoulders
• Taking prescribed medication that may affect outcome of training intervention

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Arm label 1-Set, 3-Set; 12-week progressive strength training protocol of different volumes

Behavioral: 12-week progressive strength training protocol; Every study participant will complete 12 weeks of progressive strength training with one leg performing 1-set per exercise per session and the contralateral leg performing 3-sets per exercise per session. Allocation of dominant/non-dominant leg to either 1- or 3-set protocol will be done in a stratified, randomized fashion (stratified with regard to sex and baseline strength).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Thigh muscle cross-sectional area	Changes in muscle cross sectional area of each thigh from baseline to post intervention, assessed by MRI.	Week 0 (baseline) and 12 (post training intervention)
Unilateral knee-extension isometric strength	Time course changes in maximum knee extensor, isometric strength evaluated at 120° knee angle (180° fully extended).	Week 0 (baseline), 2, 5, 9 (during intervention) and 12 (after training intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle strength	Time course changes in maximum isoinertial strength defined by one-repetition maximum in leg press, knee extension, knee flexion, and bench press.	Week 0 (baseline), 2, 5, 9 (during intervention) and 12 (after training intervention)
Knee extensors and flexors force-velocity relationship	Time course changes in torque measured during maximal voluntary isokinetic contraction at 60°, 120° and 240° ∙ sec-1.	Week 0 (baseline), 2, 5, 9 (during intervention) and 12 (after training intervention)
Blood hormonal profiles	Resting (week 0, 2 and 12) and acutely exercise-induced (week 2) hormonal profiles (testosterone, insulin-like growth factor 1, growth hormone and cortisol) determined in serum from venous blood samples.	Week 0 (baseline), 2 and 12 (post training intervention)
Muscle fiber cross-sectional area	Changes in muscle fiber cross-sectional area assessed by immunohistochemistry from muscle biopsy. Determined from muscle biopsy samples (Vastus lateralis).	Week 0 (baseline), 2 and 12 (post training intervention)
Protein expression	Changes in relative abundance of contractile protein isoforms (myosin heavy chain). Modification of proteins related to muscle hypertrophy in relation to an acute exercise session (assessed during week 2 of the intervention). Determined from muscle biopsy samples (Vastus lateralis).	Week 0 (baseline), 2 and 12 (post training intervention)
Gene expression	Changes in gene expression related to skeletal muscle hypertrophy and structural phenotype measured in steady state conditions (biopsy sampled in resting conditions, week 0, 2 and 12) and in relation to acute exercise (biopsy sampled 1-h after strength exercise, week 2). Determined from muscle biopsy samples (Vastus lateralis).	Week 0 (baseline), 2 and 12 (post training intervention)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body composition changes	Changes in body compositions (lean mass and fat mass) from prior intervention to after intervention assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry scan.	Week 0 (baseline) and 12 (post training intervention)
Habitual physical activity	Self-reported prior habitual physical activity assessed by questionnaire and interview before training intervention	Week 0
Daily nutrient intake	Daily nutrient intake assessed by a 4-day food intake registration.	Week 6

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
• Collaborators: Sykehuset Innlandet HF; Revmatismesykehuset AS
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Stian Ellefsen, PhD, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 27, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 30, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): July 1, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 6, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 5, 2015
• Last Verified: November 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: health; exercise; strength; resistance training; muscle hypertrophy; physical fitness; physical conditioning
• Other Study ID Numbers: Trainsome 2014#002