Effects of Low-Intensity with Slow Movement Resistance Exercise on Muscular Function and Muscle Damage

Effects of shortening and lengthening resistance exercise with low-intensity on physical fitness and muscular function in senior adults

“…In other studies using low intensity [, 50% 1RM] resistance training, slow-speed resistance exercise (3 sec for lifting, 1 sec for resting, and 3 sec for lowering) resulted in increases in muscular strength and muscular hypertrophy; plasma growth hormone concentrations with low intensity training were similar to those observed with high intensity training. 12,13 The resistance protocol in this study for the subjects that trained with low intensity [50% 1RM] and slow movement [5 sec for lifting and 5 sec for lowing] was the same as described in a study by Hiruma et al 20 This study provided results similar to these former studies 12,13,20 in that 1RM of 6 resistance exercises after 16 regimens with lowintensity were significantly changed in both groups.…”

“…The resistance exercise consisted of leg-extension (L-exten), leg-curl (L-curl), leg press (L-press), chest press (C-press), lateral pull-down (LP-down), and shoulder press (S-press) exercises. The method of the resistance training followed the Hiruma et al 20 protocol. Subjects exercised at 40-50% 1RM with 5 seconds for lengthening and 5 seconds for shortening.…”

“…Less attention has been devoted to adaptations to exercise with muscle lengthening in women, even though adaptation of women to resistance exercise is similar to that observed for men. 19 In another low-intensity resistance training report by Hiruma et al, 20 the shortening-lengthening resistance training with low-intensity in young female collegiate students did not induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), but muscular strength of knee extensors improved. Thus, the second aim of the present study was to examine the effect of lengthening and shortening resistance training on muscle adaptation and physical fitness in older adults.…”