Time to task failure of the contralateral untrained limb after high load-low repetition eccentric and low load-high repetition resistance training

Abstract

-Aims: Cross-training is the process whereby training of one limb gives rise to enhancements in the performance of the opposite, untrained limb and may be dependent on type of muscle contractions performed. The aim of this study was to investigate whether unilateral resistance training using eccentric contraction is more effective than concentric resistance training to improve time to task failure in the contralateral untrained limb. Methods: Subjects completed 12 weeks of resistance training consisting of 36 sessions, using unilateral leg exercise. Sustained isometric knee extension performed at 50% of maxmal force until task failure for the contralateral untrained leg. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were simultaneously recorded from contralateral untrained quadriceps (vastus medialis, rectus femoris, and vastus lateralis). Results: Time to task failure of the contralateral untrained leg and associated EMG activities significantly increased after 12 weeks of unilateral resistance training (p<0.05). However, percent increase in time to task failure and EMG amplitude after eccentric resistance training was significantly higher than concentric resistance training (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study concluded that unilateral eccentric resistance training is superior to concentric resistance training to increase time to task failure in the contralateral untrained limb.

The Effect of Contraction Type and Training Volume in Unilateral Exercises on Cross-Education: A Narrative Review Study

“…They reported that eccentric contraction was the most effective in improving peak torque in the form of concentric, eccentric, and isometric torques (18). In line with these results, other studies (16,20,39) also reported that eccentric contraction is more effective than concentric contraction in cross-education.…”

“…This review demonstrated that eccentric contraction was more effective than concentric contraction in cross-education size. The range of cross-education effects created via this training protocol was eccentric (11-27%) compared to concentric exercise (5-27%) exercise (16,18,20,33,39). In addition, in section of only eccentric contractions and only concentric contraction, the rate of induced cross-education in eccentric contraction (18%-30%) ( 15) is more than only concentric contraction section (5%-16.7%) (12,19).…”

“…Five studies compared eccentric and concentric exercises (16,18,20,33,39). The training volume was between 5-12 weeks,5-16 sessions, 5-10 repetitions, and 10-100% 1 RM for concentric and10-120% 1 RM for eccentric contraction.…”

Comparison of the Agonist/Antagonist Tensional Balance of the Knee between Two Isokinetic Positions: A Pilot Study on a Sample of High-Level Competitive Soccer Players

“…Third, in this study, the protocol used was that of Croisier et al [14,17], where the eccentric part is performed at the end. However, one of the possible limitations of our study may result from a certain degree of muscle fatigue on the evaluated limb itself, as well as on the non-evaluated one, from the crossover phenomenon; an effect that has been observed to be higher when training is based on eccentric contractions compared to the concentric modality [39].…”