Examining Changes in Muscle Size and Body Composition Between Two Hypertrophy Resistance Training Programs in Males

A Pilot Study Examining Differences in Waist, Upper-arm, Mid-thigh Circumference and Body Composition When Training to Momentary Muscular Fatigue Versus Close Failure-proximity Amongst Healthy Male Biological Sex University-aged Students

This study aims to investigate if a less physically and psychologically taxing approach to resistance training can generate equal or greater outcomes when compared to a more physically and psychologically taxing approach.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypertrophy; Body Weight Changes; Muscle Size
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Resistance Training Program

Detailed Description

Resistance training is commonly used to improve body composition, gain strength, increase muscle size (i.e., hypertrophy) and prevent muscle atrophy (i.e., muscle wasting). The most optimal mode of building muscle remains unclear, however there are many mechanisms that can be tested to yield optimal results. One variable that can be manipulated when designing a hypertrophy-focused resistance training regimen is intensity (i.e., proximity-to-failure). Proximity-to-failure is defined as the number of repetitions remaining in a set of prescribed exercises prior to reaching momentary muscular failure (MMF). MMF is when an individual cannot complete the lowering or concentric phase of a given repetition with a full range-of-motion without deviation from the prescribed form of the exercise. For all lifters, particularly amongst older populations, it can be psychologically demanding to push to MMF, and may increase the risk of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and/or injury due to technical breakdown. In contrast, there is some evidence that suggests training to a slightly less intensity (i.e., within 1-4 repetitions in reserve [RIR]) may result in comparable hypertrophic results with less of a physical and psychological demand on participants.

For these reasons, this study looks to investigate if an easier (i.e., less intense) approach to training such as training with repetitions in reserve (RIR), warrants similar or better muscle hypertrophy adaptations to MMF.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 13
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Nova Scotia
    • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4R2
      • Dalplex Fitness Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• biological male
• age 18 years or older
• enrolled at Dalhousie university
• minimum 3-months of consistent (at least 2x/week) resistance training experience

Exclusion Criteria:

• body fat percentage 25% or greater (obese)
• use of performance enhancing drugs that aim to increase rate of muscle growth (i.e., androgenic steroids, anabolic steroids, selective androgen receptive modulators, growth hormone).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Train to failure; Training regime will be highly uncomfortable since it will be both physically and psychologically challenging to push to momentary muscular fatigue (MMF; i.e., failure).	Other: Resistance Training Program; Participants will undergo a high exertion machine-based resistance training protocol.
Active Comparator: Train to non-failure; Training regime will be moderately uncomfortable as participants will be training at a close proximity to failure (4-0 repetitions in reserve; i.e., non-failure).	Other: Resistance Training Program; Participants will undergo a high exertion machine-based resistance training protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Segment girth (cm)	Upper arm (biceps) circumference, mid-thigh (quadriceps) circumference, waist (abdomen) circumference	8-weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body composition (kg)	Fat mass, Fat-free mass, Total Body Mass (fat mass + fat free mass)	8-weeks
Body Fat Percentage	Fat Mass (kg) / Total Body mass (kg) * 100	8-weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dalhousie University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 6, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 27, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): April 3, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 19, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): December 28, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 15, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 11, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Resistance Training
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Body Weight; Hypertrophy; Body Weight Changes
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022-6399

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No