Effects of Different Antagonist Protocols on Repetition Performance and Muscle Activation – Orginal Research

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of different antagonist manipulation protocols on maximal repetition performance and muscle activation during seated row (SR) exercise.Methods: Fifteen men (22.4 ± 1.1 years old, height 175 cm ± 5.5, weight 76.6 kg ± 7, and 12.3 ± 2.1 of body fat percentage) with previous resistance training experience (3.5 ± 1.2 years) performed four experimental protocols: (TP) one set to repetition failure of SR exercise; (AS) Antagonist static stretching for the pectoralis major (PM) followed by one set of SR; (PNFA) Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation for PM followed by one set of the SR; (APS) One set of the bench press with a 10 RM loads followed by one set of the SR. The maximal repetitions and the electromyographic (EMG) signal were recorded for the latissimus dorsi (LD), biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii lateral head (TL), and PM during the SR.Results: A significant increase in SR repetition performance was noted for the APS (14 ± 1) versus the TP (9 ± 1.2, P = 0.0001), PNFA (10 ± 1.5, P = 0.001), and AS (12 ± 1.5, P = 0.004) protocols. A significant increase in SR repetitions was also noted for the AS versus the TP (P = 0.001) and PNFA (P = 0.002) protocols. The muscle activation of the BB and LD were significantly higher during the APS and AS versus the PNFA and TP sessions.Conclusions: These results suggest that either using the APS or AS approaches can facilitate an increase in SR repetition performance versus traditional resistance exercise sets.

Strength performance parameters when adopting different exercise sequences during agonist–antagonist paired sets

“…Recently, Maia et al 9 found significant increases on repetition performance and electromyographic (EMG) data of vastus medialis and rectus femoris during leg extension followed by lying leg curl exercise (with 10RM loads), compared to a set of leg extension exercise performed without antagonist preloading. Similar results were noted by Paz et al 10 , who noted higher repetition performance and muscle activation of latissimus dorsi and biceps brachii for seated row exercise (10RM loads) immediately after a of bench press, when compared to set of seated row without antagonist preloading. Considering the effect of exercise order during APS, Balsamo et al 8 , observed higher training volume and lower ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) under PS session with leg curl followed by leg extension resistance exercise (with 10RM loads), compared to leg extension performed before leg curl exercise.…”

“…These results are in disagreement with previous researchers which did not found difference on agonist or antagonist muscle activation between PS training compared to TS training. 7,6 However, similar results were observed by Paz et al 10 , who noted higher muscle activation for latissimus dorsi and BB during seated row followed by a set of bench press, compared to a set without antagonist preactivation. The authors associated these results to a fatigue state induced by antagonist manipulation.…”

“…Balsamo et al 8 , suggests that the hamstring muscles were more sensitive to alterations on muscles spindles, Golgi tendon organs and elastic energy storage compared to quadriceps muscles, which may be responsible for the potential effect of antagonist preloading. Considering the seated row exercise, Paz et al 10 observed higher repetition performance after an antagonist preloading set of bench press (10RM loads), when compared to a set of seated row exercise performed without antagonist preloading.…”

Comparison study of resistance exercise nomenclature adopted among professionals and undergraduate physical education students

“…This condition may be due to the use of inconsistent terminology associated with RT exercises. For example, in exercise number 6 of this study, previous authors have adopted different names for the same exercise, such as "squat" 16 , "back squat" 18 and "barbell squat" 9 . Another example to be cited is the use of exercise "seated row" 19 , often called as "bench pull" 20 .…”

Efeitos do método pareado agonista-antagonista utilizando séries múltiplas sobre o desempenho de repetições máximas para membros inferiores

“…Em contrapartida, MaynardeEbben 15 observaram diminuição do torque muscular e da atividade mioelétrica dos músculos agonistas do movimento ao realizar uma série de flexão do joelho seguida de uma série de extensão do joelho no isocinético. Dessa forma, observa-se uma lacuna na literatura referente à comparação do método PAA ao tradicional, adotando séries múltiplas e IR mais curtos, tendo em vista que alguns estudos que analisaram tal método, utilizaram IR de um minuto e meio a dois minutos 16,17 , bem como modelos de séries simples 14,17 .…”