Resistance training induces similar adaptations of upper and lower-body muscles between sexes

Filip Kojić, Danimir Mandić, Vladimir Ilić, Filip Kojić, Danimir Mandić, Vladimir Ilić

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare sex adaptations in hypertrophy, strength and contractile properties of upper and lower-body muscles induced by resistance training (RT). Eighteen RT untrained male (MG) and female (FG) students (aged 24.1 ± 1.7 years, height: 1.75 ± 0.08 m, weight: 70.4 ± 12.3 kg) undervent 7 weeks of biceps curl and squat training (2 days/week, 60-70% repetition maximum, 3-4 sets, 120 s rest intervals, reps until muscular failure). At baseline and final measurement, thickness and cross-section area, one-repetition maximum and tensiomyography parameters (contraction time - Tc and radial displacement - Dm) of elbow flexors (biceps brachii) and knee extensors (4 quadriceps muscles) were evaluated. Although MG tends to display greater absolute strength gains for upper- (p = 0.055) and lower-body (p = 0.098), for relative changes ANCOVA revealed no sex-specific differences for either of the tested variables. Significant hypertrophy was observed for all tested muscles, except for vastus intermedius in FG (p = 0.076). The Dm significantly decreased for biceps brachii (MG by 12%, p < 0.01 and FG by 13.1%, p < 0.01) and rectus femoris (MG by19.2%, p < 0.01 and FG by 12.3%, p < 0.05), while Tc values remain unchanged. These results indicate that initial morphological, functional and contractile alterations following RT are similar for males and females, and that there are no specific sex adaptations either for the upper- or lower-body muscles. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04845295).

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

© 2021. The Author(s).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic figure of study design. Graphical representation was designed using Adobe Photoshop software version 23.0.1 (https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pre-to-post changes in biceps curl (a) and parallel squat (b) one-repetition maximum (1RM) for males (MG) and females (FG). Graphical representations were generated using GraphPad Prism software version 9.0.2 (https://www.graphpad.com/scientific-software/prism/). *Significantly greater than pre-training (p < 0.05). **Significantly greater than pre-training (p < 0.01).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pre-to-post changes in TMG parameters radial displacement—Dm (left) and contraction time—Tc (right) of biceps brachii (a), rectus femoris (b) and vastus lateralis (c) for males (black fill) and females (grey fill). Graphical representations were generated using GraphPad Prism software version 9.0.2 (https://www.graphpad.com/scientific-software/prism/). *Significantly greater than pre-training (p < 0.05). **Significantly greater than pre-training (p < 0.01).

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